An ox head 

Curator: Paulus Potter’s study, "An ox head," drawn with chalk and charcoal on paper, really strikes a chord with me. Editor: The ox looks a bit sad, even melancholic. Did someone take its pasture? The soft rendering certainly contributes to that impression, almost like a gentle giant caught in a moment of vulnerability. Curator: What resonates for me is how this detailed portrait, likely a study for a larger work, transforms what could be a simple farm animal into an individual, full of personality. Editor: Absolutely. When you consider where the raw materials come from, how the chalk or charcoal would've been sourced, prepared...then consider the value chain surrounding these creatures! Who benefitted from their labor? Was the image intended as a commentary? It really reframes what the image represents. Curator: It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Potter, I believe, truly saw and honored this animal’s presence. There is dignity in the representation. It's a quiet nod to the everyday, elevated to something more profound, a kind of earthy spirituality. Editor: Agreed. And thinking about labor and production further - drawings like this would’ve also played an important role for other artists! Who was involved in the workshops reproducing images, how were these divisions of labor organized? It opens all sorts of questions. Curator: Exactly. The economy of the studio itself, as much a factor as the grand artistic statement. I love the intimacy, the quiet power simmering beneath a seemingly simple portrait. Editor: Potter invites contemplation on the role of materials, representation and the unseen stories woven into the art itself. Curator: True! A little nod to both earthly existence, and what matters. Editor: Couldn’t agree more. A fitting end.