Zittende koe 1782 - 1837

Pieter Bartholomeusz Barbiers created this drawing of a seated cow with pen in gray and black ink. Barbiers was working in the Netherlands during a time of great social and political change. How does the artist portray nature and animals? Is it in line with the era's broader cultural values and artistic conventions? The image depicts a seemingly idyllic scene of rural life. However, it’s impossible to ignore how class and economics intersect with this portrayal. Land ownership and agricultural labor were central to the social hierarchy of the time. How might the image be seen to romanticize a way of life that was often marked by hardship and inequality? What does it mean to capture an animal in a moment of leisure? Consider whether the image challenges or reinforces conventional representations of nature and rural life. Does it invite viewers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world and the social structures that shape it?