Farmyard with a Well 1759

Curator: This is Johann Georg Wille's "Farmyard with a Well," a charming print residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels so peaceful, almost… nostalgic. The light is hitting those ramshackle buildings just so. Curator: Wille was known for his incredible skill as an engraver. Look closely at the detail he achieves, the texture of the thatch roofs, the tiny chickens! Editor: I find myself drawn to that figure by the well. It’s such a small detail, but she anchors the whole scene, doesn’t she? Is she drawing water, perhaps lost in thought? Curator: Precisely. These farmyard scenes were popular, depicting a simpler, idealized life. But they also served a social function, reminding viewers of the hard work and essential role of rural communities. Editor: It makes you wonder about the stories behind these buildings, the lives lived within those walls. There's something so beautiful and fragile about it. Curator: Indeed, a reminder of lives both humble and integral. Editor: I think I’ll carry that image of the girl at the well with me for a while.