Staande koe, naar rechts 1775 - 1833

Editor: This is Jean Bernard's "Standing Cow, Facing Right," a pencil drawing from between 1775 and 1833. It's so simple, just a cow in a field, but there’s something very peaceful about it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the cow as a symbol. Consider the ancient reverence for cattle – deities, sustenance, prosperity. What emotions does that inherent connection, present throughout cultures, stir in you when you see it rendered so plainly, yet with such clear-eyed intent? Editor: I hadn’t thought about that! It does make me think about the simple life, maybe, the rural idyll? Is that too cliché? Curator: Cliché perhaps, but clichés often hold truth. This cow isn’t idealized. Look closely. Bernard captures its weight, the texture of its coat. It becomes a potent symbol of the agricultural landscape in the late 18th century, especially if you look at its relation to background figures. Notice them. What activity do you suppose they are doing in this background? What impact would that specific activity of labor have on how we view the depicted landscape? Editor: It's hard to tell... maybe farming, herding other cows? It makes the cow feel like part of a working landscape, a symbol of labor rather than just pastoral peace. Curator: Precisely! And the realism, stark as it is, asks us to consider the economic engine powering daily life in the Dutch countryside, a life inextricably intertwined with animals and their purpose. We remember, we reimagine how fundamental cattle were to people during that time. How does this drawing shift your understanding of 18th-century rural life, seeing the animal not as picturesque, but as vital? Editor: It makes it feel more grounded, less romanticized. The cow feels much more real, more important than just a pretty picture. Curator: Indeed. By focusing on the quotidian details of rural labor through careful drawing, Bernard imbues a single animal with cultural weight.