Drinkende koe, tot de knieën in het water staand 1788 - 1839

Editor: Here we have Hendrik Voogd’s pencil drawing, “Drinkende koe, tot de knieën in het water staand,” placing a drinking cow knee-deep in water, sometime between 1788 and 1839. It feels very much like a simple observation, but something about its starkness feels profound. What do you make of it? Curator: There’s a peculiar serenity, isn’t there? The image is incredibly spare, nearly monochromatic. The cow, half-submerged, is almost a baptismal image; what’s being washed away and what’s being renewed? Remember that animals often represent instincts, nature's power. What instincts do you think are engaged here? Editor: Well, certainly thirst! But maybe it’s about the most fundamental connection to nature. A sort of visual meditation on survival and belonging? Curator: Precisely. This work highlights how essential, commonplace acts like drinking resonate far beyond the literal. There’s a dialogue between the mundane act and its symbolic weight, heightened by the almost spiritual quietness. Does it evoke specific memories or feelings in you? Editor: It reminds me of summers spent by the river as a kid – that sense of total immersion in the natural world. So it's interesting how a simple drawing of a cow can trigger such a visceral memory and a sense of place. Curator: It's the power of iconography – taking everyday images and imbuing them with layers of cultural and personal meaning. What we see isn't just a cow drinking but an enduring symbol of connection. Editor: I never thought a cow could hold so much depth. I appreciate how it prompts a wider meditation on simplicity, nature, and memory. Curator: Indeed, sometimes the quietest images resonate the loudest.