Twee staande koeien 1741 - 1795

Cornelis van Noorde created this drawing, "Two Standing Cows," in the 18th century. The composition centres on two cows rendered with delicate lines and shading, giving them a tangible presence on the page. Noorde's formal approach invites us to consider the relationship between these animals and their environment. Note the economy of means used to evoke texture, from the soft fur of the cows to the rough, scumbled clouds above. The landscape, with its distant farmhouse and grazing animals, is more than just a backdrop; it engages with contemporary ideas about nature, pastoral life, and the picturesque. The cows, substantial and unidealized, may serve as emblems of rural life, reflecting the increasing interest in naturalism. The fine lines of the drawing draw the eye, but it's the considered arrangement of forms that anchors our gaze, reminding us that representation is not just imitation, but a carefully constructed act.