July 10 - 1789

Francesco Bartolozzi created this print titled 'July' sometime between 1728 and 1815. It presents an idyllic scene of rural life, but it is far from a straightforward depiction of labor. The figures, seemingly engaged in sheep shearing, are rendered with a softness and grace that elevates them beyond mere workers. The women, with their delicate features and poised demeanors, appear to be more like shepherdesses from a pastoral poem than laborers toiling in the fields. This idealized representation speaks volumes about the social and cultural context in which Bartolozzi was working. The late 18th century was a period of both romanticizing and distancing from rural life among the elite. Prints like these offered a sanitized, picturesque view of the countryside, conveniently omitting the harsh realities faced by the working class. Here, the labor is aestheticized, transforming work into a charming tableau that speaks more to the desires and fantasies of the privileged than the realities of rural existence. The image invites us to consider the narratives that are constructed and the voices that are often left unheard.