Auf einem Felde stehen Fruchtgarben, im Hintergrunde geht der Pflug, vorne trägt ein Mann zwei Stangen 

Jakob Versteegs created “Auf einem Felde stehen Fruchtgarben, im Hintergrunde geht der Pflug, vorne trägt ein Mann zwei Stangen” using pen and brown ink, with gray wash. It is an image that offers a glimpse into the agrarian life of the 18th century. The landscape, dotted with sheaves of grain and a man carrying what appears to be tools or harvested goods, evokes the rhythms of rural existence. However, it is important to remember that images of rural life often romanticize or idealize a world that was, and remains, deeply marked by labor, class divisions, and economic realities. While Versteegs' artwork captures a certain tranquility, it also prompts us to consider whose labor sustains this vision. Who are the figures in the background? How does their work relate to the social and economic structures of the time? How might their experiences differ based on gender or class? The image also reminds us of the complex relationship between humanity and the land.