Three figures seated beneath a tree with a body of water at left and sheep at right 1774 - 1829

Jean Louis de Marne, also known as Demarnette, created this print of figures beneath a tree in France, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. The image presents an idealised view of rural life, with shepherds, sheep and ancient ruins, evoking classical antiquity. But this Arcadian fantasy papers over real social divisions. Note the sharp contrast between the figures resting in the shade and those tending the sheep. Demarnette was working during a period of great social upheaval, and images like this can be seen as an attempt to imagine a more harmonious society. They speak to the deep-seated longing for stability in times of revolution. As art historians, we can investigate these dynamics through a variety of resources, from political pamphlets to the records of art academies, helping us to understand the complex social and institutional forces that shaped artistic production.