Sleeping Shepherd, Two Calves, and a Peasant Woman 1762 - 1763

Francesco Londonio created this print of a Sleeping Shepherd, Two Calves, and a Peasant Woman in 18th century Italy. It depicts an idealized vision of rural life, a popular theme during the Rococo period. But these images often glossed over the harsh realities faced by peasants, the back bone of Italian society at the time. Londonio’s work invites us to consider the social and economic structures that shaped artistic production. Was he trying to address social issues, or simply offer an escape from urban life for his patrons? The image romanticizes country life and offers a window into the cultural values of the time. To fully understand the context of this print, we can turn to sources like agricultural records, economic surveys, and social histories, providing a more complete picture of the world in which it was created. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.