Study III c. 17th century

Curator: This is Aelbert Cuyp’s "Study III", housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It features two cows rendered in fine lines and what appears to be an etching technique. Editor: The first thing I notice is how restful it feels, almost pastoral. The birds overhead and the reclining cow add to that sense of peace, wouldn’t you say? Curator: Absolutely, and considering Cuyp's focus on landscape painting, especially his depictions of the Dutch countryside and its agrarian practices, this etching might have served as a study for incorporating livestock in a larger composition. Editor: Livestock as symbols of prosperity and domesticity, very much a part of the Dutch Golden Age imagery. The cows, rendered with clear, crisp lines, are powerful symbols of a nation’s wealth. Curator: Precisely, and the method of its making is significant. Cuyp’s choice of etching allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of these studies, making them accessible to a wider audience. Editor: It's incredible how a small work like this can speak volumes about the social and cultural landscape. Curator: Indeed, looking closely at the methods and symbols employed, we gain richer insight into the artwork and the world it came from. Editor: It just shows that even a simple scene can hold layers of meaning if we take the time to look.