Struggle over the Flemish Milch-Cow 1646

Crispijn de Passe the Younger's engraving, made around the early 17th century, presents a tumultuous scene rendered in meticulous detail. The eye is immediately drawn to the crowded composition, where figures vie for control over a central, symbolic cow. The cow, marked with a heraldic emblem, acts as a focal point around which the struggle unfolds. Notice how the figures strain and pull, their gestures and expressions etched with a sense of conflict. De Passe’s use of line creates texture and depth, animating the scene with a dynamic energy. The composition, divided into distinct groups, suggests a fractured political landscape. This division, emphasized by the contrasting figures and their actions, creates a semiotic framework. Consider how this engraving reflects the period’s complex political tensions. By using the cow as a symbol, De Passe engages with broader philosophical concerns about land, power, and prosperity. The struggle, meticulously rendered, invites ongoing interpretation and reflection on its historical and symbolic resonances.