Staande koe, van achter gezien c. 1761 - 1900

This print, "Staaende Koe, van achter gezien" from the Rijksmuseum, presents a cow seen from behind, rendered in delicate lines and subtle shading. The composition is divided into three distinct horizontal bands: the foreground with tufts of grass and rocks, the cow which dominates the centre, and a background with low hills and a distant tree. The image uses the structure of the landscape to frame the animal, creating a sense of depth. The artist's choice to depict the cow from this angle shifts our focus from its face to its mass and form. The rendering is more than just an objective recording; it explores the cow's texture and volume through line and tone. This invites a deeper consideration of what it means to represent an animal, and the interplay between natural form and artistic representation. The print reflects broader artistic and philosophical questions of its time, using form to engage with perception, representation, and the natural world. It presents a dialogue between artistic skill and the inherent structure of the subject itself.