Landschap met koeien 1760 - 1780

Elisabeth Marie Simons created this landscape with cows sometime between 1750 and 1834 using etching. It is a pastoral scene, yet it also offers a window into the socio-economic structures of its time. Simons, as a woman artist, navigated a world that often marginalized female voices in the art world. This etching, dedicated to a Baron, speaks to the patronage system of the era, where artists relied on the aristocracy for support and recognition. The inclusion of livestock and rural workers highlights the agrarian economy and the lives of those involved in food production. Consider the power dynamics at play: the artist, the patron, the rural subjects. Simons' work maintains traditional representations while subtly acknowledging the complex relationships within the society she inhabited. It invites us to reflect on our own connections to the land, to labor, and to the systems that shape our lives.