Rund, twee schapen en een ram 1818 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last made this drawing of cattle and sheep using graphite and paper. Graphite offers the artist a versatile medium; depending on the pressure and angle, you can get anything from a light shimmer to a deep matte shadow. Here, Last used the material to create a sense of volume and texture. Notice the soft, smudged lines that give the animals a sense of weight and their coats a woolly or furry feel. This isn't just about depicting animals; it reflects the social and economic landscape of the time. Cattle and sheep were vital for agriculture and textile production, embodying labor, sustenance, and trade. Last’s artistic skill transforms graphite—a humble material—into a commentary on rural life and its connection to broader economic systems. By focusing on the materiality and making process, we see how deeply intertwined art is with the everyday realities of labor, politics, and consumption.