December, from "Album of Rustic Subjects" 1859

Charles Jacque created "December, from 'Album of Rustic Subjects'," an evocative print capturing rural life. Born in 1813, Jacque lived through a period of rapid industrialization in France, and his work reflects both a nostalgia for and an engagement with, the changing social landscape. This print presents a constellation of rustic scenes. A cozy barn interior contrasts sharply with the harsh realities of winter hunting. Jacque invites us to consider the labor, and the reliance on both animal husbandry and hunting that characterized rural economies. These activities were deeply gendered, with men often engaged in hunting, while women were more involved in domestic and agricultural tasks. The imagery develops a complex narrative of humans' relationship to nature, particularly in how they depend on nature for their survival, juxtaposed with the ever present cruelty of nature. Jacque’s print offers a glimpse into a world shaped by the rhythms of nature and human labor. It asks us to consider the social and economic forces that were transforming rural communities.