Farmyard 1745 - 1810

Jean Jacques de Boissieu made this drawing, Farmyard, using pen and gray ink with gray wash, sometime in the late 18th century. Boissieu lived through the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, a period of radical upheaval in social hierarchies. Instead of depicting the lives of aristocrats or grand historical narratives, Boissieu directs our gaze toward the quotidian lives of rural people. The figures here seem caught between worlds - note those on the balcony and in the foreground appear deep in conversation, perhaps contemplating their roles in a changing society. The unidealized depiction of the farm buildings and the presence of laboring figures suggests an interest in the realities of rural life, moving away from romanticized pastoral scenes. Boissieu seems to invite us to reflect on the lives and experiences of those who were often overlooked in the grand narratives of history. The drawing is a gentle reminder of the human stories embedded in the landscape, and our connection to the past.