Boerenmeisje met twee koeien 1888

Philip Zilcken made this etching, Boerenmeisje met twee koeien, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The scene is composed of layered lines that give it depth but also a sense of flatness. Notice the use of hatching and cross-hatching that creates a range of tonal values, and how the darkest areas anchor the composition. Zilcken’s use of line, which varies from delicate to assertive, suggests an interest in capturing the textures and forms of the rural scene, from the rough wood of the fence to the soft fur of the cows. The composition draws the viewer's eye across the tableau, pausing over the figure of the girl and the two cows, framed by a wooden fence. The print invokes questions about rural life and labor, while the artist’s choices around line and form provide a point of departure for further consideration. The way Zilcken uses such simple means to evoke such a rich sense of place invites ongoing contemplation.