Liggende koe 1761 - 1784

Johannes Janson created this etching of a cow, titled "Liggende koe," during the 18th century. This was a period when the Dutch countryside was both a source of national pride and economic stability, and cows held a central place in that image and economy. This print presents a moment of pastoral serenity. The cow, rendered with detailed textures, is set against a vast, flat landscape under an expansive sky. While seemingly a straightforward depiction, the image touches on complex relationships between humans, animals, and the land. Who owns the land? What is the cow's purpose? Is it simply a symbol of rural tranquility? Or does it represent a more complex interplay of labor, ownership, and sustenance? The quietness of the scene invites us to reflect on our own connections to the natural world and the lives of the creatures within it. It’s a gentle, yet poignant reminder of the simple, profound beauty of life, rendered in the delicate strokes of Janson’s needle.