Koe liggend naast een knotwilg in de wei 1805 - 1871

Jacob Plugger created this print, "Cow lying next to a pollard willow in the meadow," using etching. Without a date, the image invites us to think about the changing place of Dutch agricultural life as it moves from the late 18th to mid-19th century. Before industrialization, farm animals weren't just property; they were symbols of rural prosperity, their depiction a way of celebrating traditional values. But as cities grew and technology advanced, images of cows in meadows took on new meaning. They became nostalgic reminders of a simpler time. In this light, Plugger's etching gains its power. It shows us not just a cow, but a whole way of life, framed by a fence and a familiar tree. The Rijksmuseum is the right place for it to be, where art historians can dig into the social conditions that shaped its making. We can look at old farm records, town archives, and even literature to understand more about the life Plugger was capturing.