Boer, die een koe voortdrijft c. 1800 - 1900

This drawing of a farmer driving a cow was made with ink on paper by an artist known only as Monogrammist GT. The image is spare, made with confident lines that quickly conjure the figures. Note how the artist used hatching, closely drawn parallel lines, to describe the bulk of the cow and the farmer's clothing. The ink itself is a simple material, but in the hands of a skilled draughtsman, it's capable of describing form, texture, and even the quality of light. What's interesting here is the directness of the marks and the simplicity of the scene. It speaks to the artist's ability to capture the everyday reality of rural life with minimal means. It serves as a reminder that artistic skill lies not just in the complexity of materials, but in the artist's ability to bring their vision to life, imbuing their chosen medium with cultural significance.