Hoofd van een paard en de kop van een koe 1812

Jean Bernard created this drawing of a horse and a cow’s head in pen and brown ink, brush in gray, around 1812. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Dutch economy depended heavily on agriculture and trade. The horse was not only essential for transportation and farming, but also a symbol of wealth and power. Similarly, cows were vital for dairy production and indicative of a prosperous agricultural sector. Bernard's choice to depict these animals reflects the economic and social values of his time. Paintings and drawings of animals such as this one were often commissioned by wealthy landowners to celebrate their farms. To truly understand this drawing, one could examine the economic records of the time, the archives of agricultural societies, and the estate papers of wealthy landowners. These resources would shed light on the social conditions that shaped Bernard's artistic production.