Køer ved et vandtrug, motivet set imod solen 1892

Theodor Philipsen, a Danish painter, sketched "Cows by a Watering Trough, the Motif Facing the Sun" using pencil on paper, though the exact date remains unknown. Philipsen, deeply influenced by Impressionism during a period of significant agricultural change in Denmark, often focused on rural life. In this sketch, Philipsen offers us more than just a pastoral scene; he provides a glimpse into the labor and lives deeply entwined with the land. Philipsen lived through a transformative period when the romanticized view of rural life began to clash with the industrial realities of farming. The quick, almost restless strokes of the pencil might evoke the constant movement and labor inherent in agricultural life. As Philipsen said: "One must not be afraid of putting down the ugly things, the way they are." The sketch reminds us of the intimate connection between humans, animals, and land. It serves as a poignant reflection on a changing world, inviting us to consider the value and dignity of rural existence.