Gehucht op de heide 1865 - 1902

Emile de Baré made this etching, "Hamlet on the Heath," depicting a humble rural scene, sometime between 1855 and 1902. It is a work that encapsulates the artistic interest in rural life. The image taps into the Belgian artistic and literary culture of the late 19th century. At the time, a key debate was underway, across Europe, about the place of the rural in an increasingly urbanised and industrialised world. Artists, writers, and intellectuals were concerned to celebrate the simple, honest life of the countryside, as a reaction to the perceived alienation of modern city life. Here, a cluster of simple buildings is set in a natural heathland landscape, with a path leading towards them. The scene may be read as a nostalgic vision of a rural community, in contrast to urban life. By researching the cultural context, and looking at exhibition histories, as well as literature of the time, we can better understand the ways this image engaged with the social and political debates of its time.