Stående tyr i sin bås 1844

Johan Thomas Lundbye made this drawing of a bull in its pen in 1841, using pen, ink and watercolour on paper. Notice how the materials contribute to the artwork's appearance. The pen and ink offer precision, delineating the bull's muscular frame and the simple architecture of its enclosure. The washes of watercolour soften the image, bringing the animal to life with shades of grey and brown. Lundbye's skill is evident in the detailed rendering and his delicate touch, typical of the Danish Golden Age. But, he also makes visible the labor involved in animal husbandry, a key element of Denmark's agrarian economy. The bull, a symbol of strength and fertility, is here reduced to a commodity within the confined space of its pen. By attending to the materials, making and context, we can better appreciate the significance of this seemingly simple artwork. It's not just a portrait of a bull, but also a glimpse into the social and economic realities of 19th-century Denmark.