Ezeltje 1832 - 1885

Rodolphe Bresdin made this tiny drawing of a donkey, probably in France, sometime in the mid-19th century. At first glance, it might appear to be just a simple sketch, but considering the social context of its time, it offers so much more. During that period, France experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading to significant social changes and inequalities. The art world was dominated by the official Salon system, which often favored academic and conservative styles, but Bresdin was an outsider who challenged the established norms through his non-conformist and imaginative works. The donkey was a common farm animal at this time. Was Bresdin attempting to comment on the changing landscape of France? Or, could the image of the donkey be a representation of the working class, burdened by the weight of society? To fully understand Bresdin's intentions, art historians delve into the socio-political context of 19th-century France, exploring exhibition records, art criticism, and the artist's biography, to understand art's dynamic relationship with society.