Stier 1650

Curator: This work is called “Stier,” which is Dutch for bull. Paulus Potter created it around 1650 using a mix of ink and watercolors. It's currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The first thing I notice is how… earthy it feels? The limited color palette almost makes it seem like a monochrome photograph. There's a sense of quiet dignity emanating from that central bull. Curator: Potter was remarkably skilled at capturing animals; their weight, their texture... He elevates the humble farm animal. Beyond just the aesthetics though, in 17th-century Netherlands, images of livestock represented national prosperity. Cows meant dairy, and dairy meant wealth. Editor: Exactly! These kinds of depictions did more than present agricultural achievement, it presented ideas about labor, and how land could generate and sustain capital. Was this simply pastoral affection, or early propaganda for the burgeoning mercantile class? Curator: Perhaps a bit of both! You know, he was just 25 when he died; I wonder what other masterpieces he might have conjured up if he had had more time. Editor: A young man who perfectly understood the political and economic dynamics of his environment, as reflected in his focus of agricultural prowess. One can only dream. It is certainly a striking illustration of a society on the brink of monumental change, wealth displayed proudly through the body of a bull. Curator: And the soft light makes him look almost ethereal... the artist had a love and respect for nature it is hard to miss. He transforms the ordinary to extraordinary. Editor: It also forces one to contemplate the consequences, ethical and ecological, of equating land and animals to sheer financial potential. Still, one can admire the skill of Potter in executing a piece that inspires discussion so long after his passing.