Paard en een koe bij een boom 1635 - 1654

This is a drawing by Paulus Potter of a horse and a cow by a tree, created some time in the mid-17th century. Potter was a Dutch artist known for his paintings of animals, often set within pastoral landscapes. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of unprecedented economic growth and cultural flourishing for the Netherlands. But this prosperity was built, in part, on wealth extracted from its colonies, and it was a period marked by rigid social hierarchies. Potter’s realistic portrayal of farm animals catered to the tastes of the rising merchant class. The image of livestock grazing peacefully resonated with a sense of national pride and prosperity. Yet, these images obscure the realities of the labor and colonial exploitation that underpinned Dutch society. Consider how the simplicity of this drawing invites you to reflect on the complex interplay of art, identity, and socio-economic history. The image, like the era itself, presents a carefully constructed view of the world, ripe for further interrogation.