Gezin en verschillende dieren bij een boerderij 1751 - 1816

This is an engraving called "Family and Various Animals at a Farm," made by Reinier Vinkeles around the late 18th century. The scene, framed by trees, evokes a sense of pastoral calm. A family sits on the left, with a man pointing towards a distant cityscape. To the right, various animals populate a farmyard, all rendered with delicate lines. Vinkeles uses line to create a sense of depth and texture. The figures are carefully delineated, their forms defined by subtle variations in line weight. The composition is balanced, with the family and farmyard acting as visual anchors. But it is in the subtle semiotic details that the work truly engages. The pointing figure suggests a connection between rural and urban life, a tension perhaps reflecting the changing social landscape of the time. Ultimately, the engraving functions as more than just a picturesque scene. It is a carefully constructed image that invites us to consider the relationship between nature, society, and the individual. It is not just the 'what' but the 'how' of the work that provides its meaning.