Rød ko, som slikker sit højre baglår 1848

Johan Thomas Lundbye created this watercolor and pen drawing of a red cow licking its right hind leg. The image gives us a glimpse into the Danish Golden Age, a period of national romanticism that emphasized local landscapes and rural life. Lundbye was deeply invested in portraying the Danish countryside authentically. His work reflects a desire to capture the essence of Danish identity through its natural and agricultural elements. The cow, an animal central to Danish agriculture, takes on a symbolic role. Lundbye elevates the animal to the level of portraiture, giving us a sense of its presence and individuality. There is a tactile quality here, the animal is rendered in a way that emphasizes its physicality. The cow, caught in a moment of self-care, becomes a mirror reflecting our own experiences of embodiment. In choosing the cow as subject, Lundbye asks us to reflect on our relationship with nature.