A Shepherd Boy 

James Ward created this simple drawing of 'A Shepherd Boy' using graphite on paper. Ward was working during a time of significant social stratification in England, where rural life was often romanticized but also fraught with hardship. This image presents a young boy, presumably from a working-class background, who appears burdened despite his youth. He is holding his crook and his head is bowed, a gesture that might suggest fatigue, resignation, or even a quiet contemplation. The way Ward captures the boy’s posture and expression speaks to a life lived under the weight of labor and societal expectations. Ward's decision to focus on such a subject might be seen as a commentary on the social landscape of his time. He invites us to consider the human cost of economic structures, and the personal stories embedded within broader historical narratives.