Little Burner of Grass (Le petit bruleur d'herbe) 

Alphonse Legros created this etching, Little Burner of Grass, in 19th century France. The image depicts a rural scene with a peasant figure, likely a woman, bent over a fire in a field. This scene, at first glance, evokes a nostalgic vision of rural life and labour. But the figure is in a posture of subservience. The image thus presents an interesting insight into the realities of rural poverty and labour during a period of rapid industrialization. Consider too, the institutional context of the French Salon system, which either accepted or rejected artworks for public display and helped shape artistic careers. Artists such as Legros often grappled with these norms, questioning which social classes and activities were worthy of artistic representation. Was this artwork a critique of social norms? Art historians study the visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations within artworks. It's through researching sources and understanding these contexts that we can see how the imagery invites us to reflect on the social structures of its time.