Kudde van verschillende dieren voortgedreven door jongetje met stok 1735 - 1797

Christian Bernhard Rode made this etching, "Kudde van verschillende dieren voortgedreven door jongetje met stok", which translates as ‘Herd of various animals driven by a boy with a stick’, most likely in Germany in the late 18th century. The image, made with simple lines, depicts a scene of rural life. A young boy guides a motley herd of animals - cows, sheep, and what appears to be a lion - across a grassy field. It’s a curious, slightly surreal image. In the 18th century, the rise of academies and art institutions shaped artistic production, often emphasizing classical or historical themes. Rode, however, seems to be exploring something different here. Perhaps he's commenting on the changing social landscape, where traditional hierarchies are upended, symbolized by the boy's unlikely control over a lion? Or maybe he is simply interested in the humor of the unlikely pairing. Understanding this print requires research into the social and economic conditions of 18th-century Germany, and the institutions that influenced artistic production. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.