Liggende en staande koe c. 1862 - 1864

Editor: Here we have "Liggende en staande koe," or "Lying and Standing Cow," a pencil drawing from Johannes Tavenraat, dating back to the early 1860s. There’s something so immediate about this sketch, almost like a fleeting thought captured on paper. What catches your eye most about this work? Curator: It is tempting to interpret the cow as a maternal symbol. For centuries, the cow represented nourishment, patience, and connection to the earth. How does the cow fit into the visual culture of the 19th century? Editor: Well, it seems to connect with the Realist movement's focus on everyday life. Was the cow perhaps becoming more symbolic of agrarian life during the rise of industrialisation? Curator: Precisely. The cow became an increasingly romanticized symbol, imbued with a sense of loss and nostalgia. Do you think Tavenraat consciously intended for these associations to be so present? Editor: Maybe not explicitly, but perhaps he intuitively tapped into that collective sentiment, giving these humble animals an emotional weight beyond their literal representation. It makes me wonder about his own background. Curator: Good question. And what about the technique itself, the use of quick, almost frantic lines? Does it remind you of a particular cultural memory of cows? Editor: Perhaps a fading memory? That roughness contrasts with the tenderness we often associate with the maternal. Thank you. Curator: Thank you, this was a stimulating exchange, especially in regard to collective visual memory.