A Cow and Her Calf, and Two Cows Grazing c. 19th century

Curator: This is Joseph Fussell’s “A Cow and Her Calf, and Two Cows Grazing,” currently held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a very bucolic feel. The image is built up of these tiny, delicate lines, almost like it’s vibrating with life. Curator: Indeed. The cow and calf have long been a symbol of nurturing and motherhood, representing fecundity and domestic harmony. Editor: And yet, there’s a tension here, isn’t there? This image romanticizes pastoral life while obscuring the labor and, frankly, the exploitative relationships inherent in animal husbandry. Curator: Certainly, Fussell’s image participates in a long tradition of idealizing rural existence. The cow as an almost sacred representation of nature. Editor: It’s a poignant reminder that how we choose to depict the natural world reflects our own societal biases and values. Curator: Absolutely. A look at this simple pastoral scene opens up a wealth of interpretation.