Herder met schapen en hond in een berglandschap Possibly 1843

John Burnet created this print, "Herder met schapen en hond in een berglandschap," sometime between his birth in 1784 and death in 1868. The artwork transports us to a romanticized Scottish Highlands, a landscape intertwined with notions of identity, gender, and class during the 19th century. At first glance, it's easy to see a pastoral scene of a shepherdess, her sheep, and a loyal dog, rendered in meticulous detail. But, consider the position of women in rural societies at the time, and what emerges is a narrative about labor, beauty, and the romanticization of country life. Burnet captures the quiet dignity of a young woman, barefoot yet refined, as she engages in the traditional craft of spinning wool. This image speaks to the complex role of women in the rural economy, one that often goes unacknowledged. It’s a portrayal of how they were both idealized and deeply embedded in the economic realities of their time. Burnet's work opens up a space to consider the historical narratives that celebrate some identities while obscuring others.