Calves 

Rik Wouters made this drawing of calves with ink on paper, although we don't know exactly when. Wouters was Belgian, and this subject matter is consistent with artistic trends from that place and time. Throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, artists sought to represent scenes of rural life, often as part of a nationalist project to define a unique cultural heritage. Of course, the representation of farm animals carries its own social and economic context, too. In the rapidly industrializing Belgium of Wouters' time, the national economy was still heavily reliant on the agricultural sector. So, while this image may seem simple, we might also consider it as a record of Belgian industry at the time. Art historians can use census and economic data to better understand this historical context. These sources can help us understand the complex relationship between art and society.