Landschap met boerderij 1750 - 1803

Giovanni Volpato made this print of a farm landscape sometime in the late 18th century. Volpato was an Italian engraver, known for his prints of classical Roman art and architecture, but also these kinds of scenes of Italian life. In this image, we see a farm with peasants going about their daily lives. In the distance, we can just make out the city. Prints like these gained popularity at this time as they evoked an idealised vision of country life and the people who lived it. The image romanticises the lifestyle of the peasants and their connection to the land. The print was produced during a period of significant social and economic change in Europe, including the rise of industrialisation and urbanisation. This image speaks to a nostalgia for a simpler, more rural way of life that was being threatened by these changes. To gain a deeper understanding of this artwork, one could consult historical records about the rural economy, the print market in Italy, and the tastes of wealthy landowners.