Koeienkop naar rechts 1800 - 1802

Editor: So, this is "Koeienkop naar rechts," or "Cow's Head Facing Right," an engraving by Joannes Bemme, made sometime between 1800 and 1802. It's at the Rijksmuseum now. It feels…surprisingly tender for a portrait of a cow, almost melancholic. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Melancholy, yes! I hadn't quite put my finger on it, but I agree. It's that soulful eye, isn't it? Bemme’s not just showing us a cow; he's hinting at something deeper. Consider the period: late 18th/early 19th century, a burgeoning interest in rural life, in nature, and this engraving places the animal within a delicate landscape, both portrait and pastoral scene at once. How does the realistic depiction of the animal enhance that for you? Editor: It definitely makes it feel more…dignified? Like we're meant to see it as an individual, not just livestock. The detail in the fur and the way the light catches its eye…it's almost romantic, you know? Curator: Romantic indeed! The period embraced these juxtapositions. Bemme manages to make us consider our relationship with the natural world, even provoking some consideration for our food choices. Can art really change behaviour? It invites a quiet contemplation of life, death, and everything in between. It’s far more than just a cow, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely! It makes you think about the stories behind what we often take for granted. This one little engraving opens up a whole field of thought… pun intended! Curator: Ah, I see what you did there! Precisely. And for me, it underscores the power of art to make the mundane profoundly moving.