Drie koeien en een boer in een weiland 1855

This print of cows and a farmer in a field was made by Jules Didier, a French artist who lived in the 19th century. It's rendered in a technique called etching, which involves using acid to bite lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Didier’s picture of cows and their keeper might seem like a straightforward rural scene. But think about how the Industrial Revolution changed agriculture, and the relation between the countryside and the city. In the past, a pastoral image like this might have been evidence of great landed wealth, and self-sufficiency. By the time Didier made this print, it’s more like a nostalgic vision. The farmer seems to be working independently, but in truth, he's part of a larger economic system, producing milk or meat for consumption in urban centers. In the end, remembering the material and historical context of any work of art is a way of enriching our understanding and appreciation. It reminds us that seemingly simple images are often deeply connected to the social issues of their time.