Canton of Vaud
1809
Franz Niklaus König captures a charming slice of Swiss rural life in this 1809 print, depicting a young couple from the canton of Vaud taking a flirtatious break from their harvest. The man leans casually on his staff with a large basket of grapes at his feet, while the woman rests on her rake, dressed in a lovely striped apron. This piece is a perfect example of Romanticism's fascination with the 'noble peasant,' idealizing the simple, hardworking life of the countryside over the chaos of growing cities. König was famous for these 'costume studies,' which acted like the fashion magazines of their day, showing off regional Swiss attire to the rest of Europe.
- Technique
- hand-colored engraving
- Material
- paper
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