Schetsblad met studies van koeien 1848 - 1865

This is Gerard Bilders’ sketch sheet with studies of cows. The Dutch artist sketched these bovine figures using graphite. The cow, a symbol of nurturing and provision, has ancient roots. It stretches back to the Egyptian goddess Hathor, a maternal deity often depicted with bovine features. The cow embodies fertility, abundance, and the life-giving power of nature. These associations resonate deeply within the collective psyche, evoking a sense of comfort and primordial connection. We find echoes of this symbolism in various cultures, where the cow is revered as a sacred animal. Yet, the cow is not merely a figure of reverence. As it appears here, these cows are not idealized deities but tranquil, domestic creatures which evokes our emotional connection to the pastoral and the rural. Thus, we see how this archetypal figure of the cow, traversing time and cultures, continues to nourish our collective imagination.