Liggende koe, naar links 1775 - 1833

This drawing of a reclining cow was made by Jean Bernard, probably in the late 18th or early 19th century, using graphite and colored chalk on paper. The choice of materials is significant here. Bernard wasn't using rare pigments or a costly canvas; instead, he opted for humble, readily available materials. Look at the soft, almost smudged effect he achieves with the chalk. It's a technique that lends itself to capturing the animal's bulk and relaxed posture. You can almost feel the weight of the cow pressing into the ground. The drawing has an immediacy that suggests it was made on site, perhaps even as a study for a larger work. In that sense, it’s tied to the wider context of agrarian life, a world of labor and production that is often overlooked in art history. Bernard elevates this everyday scene through the simple act of close observation and skillful rendering. Ultimately, the drawing reminds us that even the most ordinary subject can be a source of beauty and meaning, when approached with sensitivity and attention to the materials at hand.