Hirt und Herde in felsiger Landschaft mit Bäumen 

Franz Kobell produced this etching, "Shepherd and Herd in Rocky Landscape with Trees," around the late 18th century. The image presents a tranquil scene of a shepherd tending his flock amidst a rocky, wooded landscape, evoking an idealized vision of rural life. Made in Germany, at a time of emerging Romanticism, this work reflects a growing interest in nature and the common person. Kobell, trained at the Mannheim drawing academy, was part of a broader artistic movement that challenged the dominance of academic art. His focus on landscape, a genre traditionally seen as lesser, and his sympathetic depiction of the shepherd, suggest a subtle critique of aristocratic values. To understand this work fully, one could explore the history of landscape art, the social status of shepherds in 18th-century Germany, and the role of art academies in shaping artistic taste. This etching is not just an image; it is a product of its time, reflecting specific cultural values and challenging established norms.