Koeien 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this pencil drawing titled ‘Koeien’, Dutch for ‘Cows’, some time before his death in 1888. Mauve, as a leading artist in the Hague School, often depicted rural scenes and landscapes, reflecting a romanticized view of country life that was popular at the time. However, it’s important to consider what these images leave out. The labor and economic struggles of rural workers, the realities of animal husbandry, and the social hierarchies of the Dutch countryside are largely absent. What we see is a vision of pastoral harmony, carefully constructed. Mauve’s close ties to the art world—he was Vincent van Gogh’s cousin-in-law, and a significant early influence—further situate him within a specific social class and artistic tradition. His work then, represents not just cows, but a set of values and perspectives tied to his identity and historical context. It invites us to think about whose stories are told and whose are left out in the making of art.