Cows in a Field 1645 - 1677

Anthonie van Borssom painted ‘Cows in a Field’ in the Dutch Golden Age, a period of unprecedented economic prosperity. Paintings of cows may seem a world apart from economic growth, yet land, and especially livestock, represented capital in the 17th century. Borssom skillfully layers oil paint to depict the animals' bulk and weight, their very substance embodying wealth and sustenance. Note the landscape: flat and open, ready for agriculture. In the distance, a small figure tends to the herd, a reminder of the labor involved in managing these valuable assets. The painting’s surface is smooth, the brushstrokes almost invisible – typical of the period. This wasn’t accidental; artists often spent hours grinding pigments and carefully applying layers of glaze to achieve a lifelike finish, a highly skilled labor in itself. Ultimately, Borssom's painting reminds us that even seemingly simple images are deeply embedded in their social and economic context. By considering the materials, the making, and the world in which it was created, we can gain a richer understanding of the artwork's significance.