Rund 1825

Eugène Verboeckhoven created this print of a 'Rund', or bull, using lithography. Verboeckhoven was a key figure in the romantic movement of the 19th century, a time when artists turned to nature and rural life to express emotion and identity. During this period, the image of livestock carried significant cultural weight, representing the agrarian economy and societal values of the time. But there's more to this image than meets the eye. Take a moment to really look at the bull’s form, and consider what it represents about power, labor, and even masculinity during the 1800s. Were there any specific interactions or beliefs about livestock during this time? How might these broader ideas be communicated through the visual representation of a single animal? This lithograph captures both the beauty and the social complexities of its era, encouraging us to reflect on the relationships between humans, animals, and the world we inhabit.