Koe aan de rand van het water 1883

This etching of a cow by Léon Brunin was made in 1883. The image captures a bucolic scene of rural life, but it's important to remember that such images are rarely neutral. This was a period of intense social and economic change in Belgium, as industrialization and urbanization transformed the landscape. Agricultural life became a symbol of regional identity. The art institutions of Belgium, such as the Royal Academy, played a role in shaping the art market, and artists were often encouraged to create images that reinforced national identity. To fully understand this etching, we need to consider the social and institutional context in which it was created. By researching the history of Belgian art institutions and the social history of the period, we can gain a deeper understanding of this work and its place in the cultural landscape.