Landschap met een ossewagen, gezicht tussen Ancona en Senigallia c. 1860 - 1900

Johannes Arnoldus Boland created this landscape etching of the Italian countryside between Ancona and Senigallia. Born in the Netherlands in 1838, Boland was working during a time of significant social and political change in Europe. The artwork presents a seemingly pastoral scene, but I would like us to consider the lives of the working class in 19th-century Italy. Peasants and laborers were often marginalized and faced harsh conditions. The ox-drawn cart suggests a rural setting, but it also hints at the economic realities of the time. The figures resting by the roadside – are they taking a break from labor? Are they travelers? The presence of these figures suggests a story of ordinary people navigating the landscape. Boland’s etching provides a window into the past, reminding us of the human stories embedded within the landscapes we often perceive as timeless. This piece invites us to reflect on the lives and labor of those who shaped the world we inhabit today.