Fotoreproductie van een prent van een dam bij een boerderij naar Johannes Pieter van Wisselingh 1867

This is an anonymous reproduction of an earlier print depicting a farm scene by Johannes Pieter van Wisselingh. The image presents an idyllic view of rural life: a small cottage with a thatched roof sits beside a stream, while a shepherd guides a flock of sheep across the open field. During the 19th century, rapid industrialization changed the landscape of Europe. This print reflects a growing nostalgia for simpler times, and an imagined past connected to the land. Yet, it is important to remember that these pastoral scenes often mask the harsh realities of agricultural labor and class divisions. Who actually benefited from this idealized image? And whose labor sustained this vision? Consider how the print evokes a sense of longing for a way of life that was already disappearing. While visually pleasing, it also invites us to consider the complex relationship between art, memory, and the social realities of the time.