Cattle near a River 

Aelbert Cuyp painted ‘Cattle near a River’ using oil on canvas, a traditional medium for the Dutch Golden Age. But consider what's not shown. The Netherlands was a mercantile power at the time, with global trade networks; those cows are a form of capital, soon to be converted into dairy, leather, and meat. The paint itself signifies wealth, as pigments were expensive, especially the vibrant yellows and browns used here. Cuyp’s skilled brushwork captures light and shadow, creating a serene, almost idealized view of the Dutch countryside. This artistry elevates a scene of animal husbandry to a level of high art, obscuring the labor involved, and the underlying economic forces driving the nation. By focusing on the materials and context, we see how seemingly simple paintings are tied to broader histories of labor, politics, and consumption.