The Cow and the Calf 1626 - 1678

Karel Du Jardin's etching captures a serene pastoral scene. At its heart, a cow and calf rest, symbols deeply rooted in ancient cultures as representations of nourishment and fertility. The motif of the nurturing cow has resonated through millennia, appearing in Egyptian depictions of Hathor, the divine mother, and in various agrarian societies where cattle are central to life. In ancient Greece, the cow was sacred to Hera, symbolizing motherhood and protection. Yet, over time, the cow's symbolic weight has shifted, acquiring new layers of meaning. Consider the psychological resonance: the cow, as a maternal figure, touches on our earliest experiences of comfort and dependence. Du Jardin's choice to highlight this pair evokes primal feelings of security and connection. This image is not merely a depiction of rural life; it's a profound engagement with the archetypal mother, subtly stirring our collective memories and subconscious longings.