Man bij een ezel en schapen 1777 - 1813

Jacobus Millies created this small etching, "Man bij een ezel en schapen," likely in the late 18th or early 19th century, a period defined by significant social and political upheaval. Millies, working within the Dutch tradition, offers us a glimpse into rural life. But this isn't merely a pastoral scene; it's a depiction laden with the socio-economic realities of the time. The man, the donkey, the sheep—they are all players in a system of labor, a system that often marginalized individuals based on class. The intimacy of the scene—the proximity of man and animal—speaks to a codependency, a reliance on each other for survival. But consider the power dynamics at play: who is burdened, and who benefits? Millies’ work invites us to reflect on the intersections of labor, class, and our relationship to the natural world. It serves as a poignant reminder of the human stories embedded in the landscapes we often romanticize.