Koeiensnuit Possibly 1858 - 1859

Here in the Rijksmuseum we see "Koeiensnuit," or "Cow Snout," a pencil drawing by Johannes Tavenraat, made sometime in the 19th century. At first glance, it is simply a study of a cow's face. But, consider the long and varied history of the bovine image. Since ancient times, the cow has appeared as a symbol of fertility, nourishment, and even divinity in cultures stretching from Egypt to India. These connotations are hardly ever straightforward however; think of the Minotaur, for example. This hybrid creature embodies both monstrous aggression and base instinct. We might understand the two sketches in this artwork as being connected by a sort of visual echo, reflecting the symbolic range of an animal which has been essential to human society and its unconscious for thousands of years.