Liggende koe Possibly 1670

This is a drawing of a resting cow, rendered in colored chalks by Jan de Bray. While seemingly straightforward, the image evokes a rich tapestry of cultural memory. Consider the cow itself: for millennia, it has been a symbol of nourishment, fertility, and maternal care. From ancient Egyptian deities like Hathor, depicted with bovine features, to the sacred cows venerated in Hinduism, this animal carries immense symbolic weight. Even in 17th-century Holland, where de Bray worked, the cow was deeply embedded in the cultural consciousness. The Dutch landscape was dotted with these creatures, their presence signifying prosperity and the bounty of the land. The cow here isn't merely an animal; it's a vessel of collective memory, stirring primal emotions. Its calm repose invites contemplation, connecting us to a lineage of reverence and dependence that stretches back through countless generations. It is through this constant re-emergence that our cultural narrative is formed.