Magere koe c. 1750 - 1800

G. van Citters created this artwork, "Magere Koe" or "Lean Cow", in an unknown year using etching techniques. The stark image of a malnourished cow dominates the composition, its emaciated form delineated through fine, precise lines. This starkness is heightened by the contrast with the suggestion of landscape, and the cow, which is rendered with a detailed, almost anatomical precision. The artwork is framed by the geometry of the rectangle, yet the figure pushes against these boundaries. One might ask what symbolic interplay exists between the vulnerability of the cow and the broader issues of sustenance, value, and representation in the economy. It is a poignant visual statement, one which invites reflection on how the animal is represented, and how such representation may critique notions of pastoral life. The lasting effect of this print lies in its austere simplicity, leaving us to question its cultural and philosophical implications beyond its immediate visual impact.