Zwei Kühe, eine stehend, eine liegend 

Johann Nepomuk Rauch captured these two cows in a seemingly simple pencil sketch. But within the frame, the recumbent cow is the prominent motif. For millennia, across cultures, cattle have been associated with nourishment, fertility, and maternal strength. In ancient Egypt, Hathor, often depicted as a cow-headed goddess, embodied motherhood and nurturing. The act of reclining – a posture of rest, vulnerability – contrasts sharply with the upright posture of the standing cow. Consider how artists like Paulus Potter elevated the cow to the status of a noble, almost monumental figure. Yet, even in those grand depictions, the underlying symbolism of sustenance and life-giving remains. The image of a reclining cow may unconsciously evoke feelings of comfort and security, tapping into our collective memory of nature's provision. This image thus resonates on a subconscious level, reminding us of primal connections to the natural world. The cyclical nature of life and death, rest and activity, are constantly resurfacing and taking on new meanings.