Two Cows (recto and verso) c. 1639

Editor: This is "Two Cows" by Claude Lorrain, a small drawing. It’s so simple, almost like a doodle. What can we learn from it? Curator: Consider the material conditions that made this possible. Paper was becoming more readily available, allowing artists like Lorrain to create studies. These weren't just sketches; they were a form of artistic labor, feeding into the larger production of landscapes and pastoral scenes for consumption by the elite. Editor: So, it's not just cows on paper, but about art as a commodity? Curator: Exactly. The drawing itself is evidence of a changing art market, where even studies held value. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about! Curator: Indeed, seeing art through its production reveals so much.