Studieblad met koeiekop 1781 - 1822

This is a study of a cow's head by Hermanus Fock, made using etching. The head dominates the composition, rendered with fine, deliberate lines that capture its form and texture. Look how the lines vary in thickness and direction to suggest the soft, rounded contours of the animal's face. A human head emerges from the left adding an unsettling touch. The background, composed of foliage and architectural elements, feels almost dreamlike, rendered with a lighter touch, which contrasts with the more detailed foreground. This contrast creates a dynamic tension, inviting us to consider the relationship between the natural and the constructed, the foreground and background. Note how Fock destabilizes established meanings by juxtaposing the detailed depiction of the cow with a ghostly, vague background. The etching challenges fixed perspectives, encouraging continuous interpretation.