Herdsman Instructing a Shepherdess to Play on the Pipe 1741

Editor: This print, "Herdsman Instructing a Shepherdess to Play on the Pipe" by François Vivares, depicts a pastoral scene. The figures seem almost secondary to the landscape itself. What do you see when you look at this print? Curator: It highlights the romanticized vision of rural labor. Consider the labor involved in both creating and depicting this scene. The engraver’s meticulous work, the idealized portrayal of shepherds, it all obscures the harsh realities of agricultural life. Editor: So, it's not just about the pretty picture, but also about the act of making and the story it tells about labor? Curator: Exactly. How does the consumption of this image reinforce existing social structures? Editor: I never considered the social implications of landscape prints like this. Thanks for making me think about it! Curator: My pleasure. There's always more than meets the eye when we consider materiality and production.