Koe met gedraaide hoorn 1650

Paulus Potter made this etching of a cow with a twisted horn sometime in the mid-17th century. Etching involves drawing with a sharp needle through a waxy ground applied to a metal plate. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, after which ink is applied into the recessed areas. Finally, it is pressed onto paper to yield an image. Potter has made good use of this process, especially the ways in which it allows for fine detail. Look closely, and you’ll see how he varied the density of his marks to describe the animal’s bulk, and to create a sense of light and shadow. At the time, the Dutch Republic was a hotbed of agricultural innovation. Farmers were improving breeds of livestock, reclaiming land for pasture, and developing new technologies. This print reflects that context, presenting the cow not as a generic beast of burden but as a source of national pride and wealth. It's an aesthetic celebration of agricultural labor.