Bull, Cow, Horse and Ass Near a Fountain c. 17th century

Curator: This is Pieter van Laer's "Bull, Cow, Horse and Ass Near a Fountain," a small etching. It’s part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels immediately like a study in contrasts, doesn't it? There's this inscription, stark and formal, juxtaposed with the casual, almost comical grouping of animals and figures. Curator: Precisely. Van Laer, known as "Il Bamboccio," specialized in these scenes of everyday life. The animals themselves carry symbolic weight – the bull representing virility, the horse, nobility. Editor: I'm drawn to the etching technique itself, the cross-hatching creating depth and texture. You can almost feel the rough texture of the stone fountain and the animals' hides. The social context is so important here, the process of etching itself making art accessible. Curator: Absolutely, and the fountain? It's not just a place for animals to drink, but also a symbol of abundance, a communal gathering point. It speaks to the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Editor: Thinking about its material existence, this etching would have been relatively inexpensive to produce and widely distributed. These multiple originals offer a different lens into social history. Curator: A fascinating reminder that art can be both deeply symbolic and grounded in the tangible realities of its time. Editor: Exactly, a rich intersection of materials, social life, and symbolic meaning.