Schetsblad met studies van koeien 1848 - 1865

This is a sheet of studies of cows, sketched by Gerard Bilders. The cow, an age-old symbol of nourishment, plenty, and maternal power, is depicted here with a sense of quiet observation. From ancient Egypt, where the cow goddess Hathor embodied motherhood and nurturing, to various mythologies in which cattle represent earthly abundance, the symbolism of the cow is deeply rooted in human culture. We find echoes of this in the Minoan civilization, where bull leaping was both a sport and a sacred rite. Here, the cow is depicted with a focus on its bodily form and volume, echoing the artistic pursuit of classical antiquity where the depiction of the animal was as revered as that of the human form. Consider how the animal, in its stillness, elicits an emotional response linked to our collective memory and subconscious associations with nature's provision. The image of the cow recurs throughout art history, evolving in meaning, yet always grounding us in the basic elements of life.