Arcadisch landschap met herder bij waterval 1713 - 1775

Louis Fabritius Dubourg created this etching called "Arcadian Landscape with Shepherd by Waterfall" sometime in the 18th century. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of immense economic, scientific, and artistic achievement. Dubourg was working in the wake of this period. The etching depicts a classical scene of shepherds in an idealized pastoral landscape, a popular theme among artists and their elite patrons. During this time, artists often created idyllic scenes that reflected a longing for simpler times, a way of life that was increasingly disrupted by the growth of cities and commerce. There is something deeply desired in this imagined past. Although seemingly timeless, the image is reflective of the gendered dynamics of the period. The shepherd, traditionally male, watches over and controls the landscape, a subtle reflection of societal power structures. It’s as if Dubourg invites us to wander through a dreamscape, where nature is both beautiful and a canvas for the quiet assertion of social hierarchies.