Staande os in het water 1659 - 1709

Editor: This is "Standing Ox in the Water," an etching and engraving created sometime between 1659 and 1709, held at the Rijksmuseum but created by an anonymous artist. The ox looms large in the foreground, with a hint of a landscape behind it. It’s... rather melancholy, isn’t it? What do you make of it? Curator: Melancholy is a beautiful word for it. I think there’s a kind of stark honesty in this piece. Imagine the artist, perhaps sketching en plein air – *attempting* to capture this ox, in this light, maybe with the scent of wet earth hanging in the air. The very process seems intimate, wouldn’t you say? It feels as if we are standing right there in that marsh. Editor: Definitely. The detail in the fur, and how the water reflects the ox's legs… But why an ox? Curator: Ah, that’s where it gets interesting! In the Dutch Golden Age, scenes of everyday life were elevated. This isn't just any ox, but a representation of rural life, of prosperity, of the Dutch landscape itself. A symbol made personal, rendered with exquisite detail that elevates it. Like an animal portrait with character. The way the engraver captured the way the animal rests peacefully in the shallow water almost imbues it with self-reflection. How fascinating is that?! Editor: I never thought of an ox as a symbol! But seeing the ox this way, with such character… I see your point! Thanks. Curator: My pleasure! It just proves even the most ordinary subject, viewed with curiosity, can become extraordinary, can't it? Art helps us view ourselves.