Koeien bij een voederbak c. 1854 - 1868

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing, titled 'Cows at a Feeding Trough', with pen in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-19th century. Drawings like this were not always intended as artworks in themselves, and many were made for teaching purposes. Here, the artist demonstrates his understanding of animal anatomy. But perhaps we can also see this quick sketch as reflecting broader social and cultural shifts in the Dutch landscape. The rise of agrarianism changed the relationship between people and animals, and cows became important symbols of wealth. Representations of animals could be seen as endorsements of emerging agricultural practices and new relationships between humans and the natural world. As historians, we can examine the artist's diaries, exhibition reviews, and even agricultural records to develop a deeper understanding of the role this kind of art played in 19th-century Dutch society.