Landschap met koeien 1880 - 1882

This pencil drawing, sketched by George Hendrik Breitner, captures cows in a landscape. The cow, a symbol of nurture and abundance, echoes through millennia of art. In ancient Egypt, the cow goddess Hathor embodied motherhood and fertility; her image recurs in countless forms, from monumental sculptures to amulets, representing the life-giving force of the land itself. Later, the Greeks and Romans associated cattle with prosperity, often depicting them in pastoral scenes symbolizing the Golden Age. The cow's symbolism shifts, yet the underlying themes of nourishment, protection, and the cyclical nature of life persist, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The humble cow, therefore, is not merely an animal depicted in art, but a potent symbol, continuously evolving, resurfacing, and transforming across time and cultures.