Grazend vee en huizen aan de Oudedijk in Kralingen 1868

This landscape was sketched by Johannes Tavenraat in 1868, capturing grazing cattle and houses along the Oudedijk in Kralingen. The cows in this idyllic scene offer a rich tapestry of symbolic meanings. Throughout history, the cow has appeared as a symbol of life-giving nourishment, such as the ancient Egyptian sky-goddess Hathor, often depicted as a cow, embodying fertility and maternal care. In other cultures, the cow symbolized prosperity and wealth. Consider how these gentle animals, rendered simply in pencil, resonate with primal notions of sustenance, nurturing, and pastoral harmony. The image evokes a deep-seated sense of connection to the land and to a simpler, agrarian existence. The cyclical return of the cow as a potent emblem reminds us of our enduring relationship with nature, constantly resurfacing in our collective consciousness.