Bauer mit zutrinkendem Gestus aus der _Tanzpause_ c. 1878

This sketch of a farmer holding a glass was created by Benjamin Vautier, a Swiss artist associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting. Vautier's work gives us a glimpse into 19th-century rural life, and the cultural context of the time. Notice the farmer's attire and how it marks his identity, distinguishing him from the urban bourgeoisie. The way he holds the glass, almost in a toast, invites us to consider the role of community and celebration in rural societies. Vautier’s genre scenes often romanticized peasant life. The labour was hard but the workers were content, and the class structure was divinely ordained. Yet this romanticized lens has real consequences, for it flattens the lived experiences of the working class. It invites a particular kind of gaze, one that is often incurious about the hardships of rural life. As you observe, consider the complexities of representing identity, particularly when it involves cultural and class distinctions.