Figure 1.--Marc Louis Benjamin Vautier painted naturalistic portrait of the farmers and their families in Switzerland and the nearby German Black Forest. They are charming genre pieces leaving us wonderful depictions of 19th century scenes. The scenes depict scenes and peoples that were disappearing as a result of industrialization. One good example is the "The City Cousin". It is a classic subject, but we can see a comparison between urban and rural clothing. Click on the image to see the rest of the painting.

Marc Louis Benjamin Vautier painted naturalistic portrait of the peasant farmers and their families in Switzerland and the nearby German Black Forest. They are charming genre pieces leaving us wonderful depictions of 19th century rural peasant scenes. The scenes respect communities and peoples that were disappearing as a result of industrialization and urbanization. The Industrial Revolution began in Britain (late-18th century). After the Napoleonic Wars (early-19th century), the Industrial Revolutionm cspread on the Continet, and the German states were the leaders. Switzerland was not part of Germany, but within the larger German cultural area. And the new industrial society and growing urban populsation was encroaching on the peasant agricultural society that had dominated continentasl Europe for centuruies. We see out doors images of their homes and farms. There are also fascinsting images of domestic life iniude their homes. One good example is the "The City Cousin" (figure 1). It is a classic subject, but we can see a comparison between urban and rural clothing. Much like Normal Rockewell, the scenes are idealized, but the clothing depictions seem very accurate And we see the children in their small one-room children. Notably the Swiss were educating both boys and girls. Switerland was a leader in public education and this includedschools in rural areas. This was primarily the German influence. The Germans are the larrgest Swiss ethnic group. Germany and America were the two leaders in public education.

Germam Industrial Revolution

Vautier's genre paintings are charming genre pieces leaving us wonderful depictions of 19th century rural peasant scenes. The scenes respect communities and peoples that were disappearing as a result of industrialization and urbanization. The Industrial Revolution began in Britain (late-18th century). After the Napoleonic Wars (early-19th century), the Industrial Revolutionm spread on the Continet, and the German states were the leaders. While Germany would prove to be the dominant European industrial power, it had a major disadvantage -- the lack of needed strategic materials. The only major resource Germasny bad in quantity was coal. Switzerland was not part of Germany, but within the larger German cultural area. And the new industrial society and growing urban population was encroaching on the peasant agricultural society that had dominated continentasl Europe for centuries. This transition had imprtant modernizing impacts of great benerfit to society. It also gave rise to unsettling societal stresses that would give rise to extremism in the 20th century. The German peasantry would be strong supporters of the NAZIs in Hitler's rise to power, in part because of the Work of Richard Walther Darré.who Hitler would appoint to be the NAZI Minister of Agriculture.

Disappearing Rural Peasantry

Marc Louis Benjamin Vautier painted naturalistic portrait of the peasant farmers and their families in Switzerland and the nearby German Black Forest. We see out doors imaages of their homes and fsarms. There are also fascinsting images of domestic life iniude their homes. One good example is the "The City Cousin" (figure 1). It is a classic subject, but we can see a comparison between urban and rural clothing. Much like Normal Rockewell, the scenes are idealized, but the clothing depictions seem very accurate And we see the children in their small one-room children. One charming image shows a one room school. We think this was a public school in a rural area. You can note in the floor the wooden shoes - possibly belonging to the barefoot boy - and a bird feather. Notably the Swiss were educating both boys and girls at the primary level. Switerland was a leader in public education and this included schools in rural areas. This was primarily the German influence. The Germans are the larrgest Swiss ethnic group. Germany and America were the two leaders in public education. These peasant images are charming and fascinating to look at. But the charm fails to bring out a fundamental issue illustrated here. The Germans including the Swiss Germans were very ineffiucent and unlike Britain and especially America and Canada did not moderize their agricultural sector. This would have emense consequences in the 20th century--especially in World War I and II.

Created: 5:35 AM 12/18/2009
Last updated: 6:49 PM 1/31/2020