Koe, van voren 1780 - 1851

Here we see an etching by Pieter Janson, titled Koe, van voren, which translates to Cow, from the Front. The seemingly simple depiction of a cow carries profound echoes across cultures and time. Cows, since ancient times, have been powerful symbols. In ancient Egypt, the cow goddess Hathor embodied motherhood and nurturing, while in India, the cow remains a sacred animal, revered for its gentle nature and life-sustaining milk. This reverence appears also in other cultural iterations of mother goddesses, for example, Europa. Notice the cow’s direct gaze. It connects us to something primal. This is a cyclical image, one that continues to evolve. The cow remains with us, transformed yet familiar.