Grazende koe 1866 - 1922

Willem Cornelis Rip sketched 'Grazende koe' using graphite, capturing the likeness of grazing cows. Born in 1856, Rip lived in a time when the Netherlands was undergoing significant social and economic changes. Through this sketch, Rip engages with the long history of pastoral art, yet, instead of idealizing rural life, he presents a more humble, and perhaps more accurate, depiction. The focus on cows connects to the economic importance of agriculture in the Netherlands. Cows weren't just animals; they were capital, deeply entwined with the livelihoods of many families. Rip seems less interested in celebrating the beauty of the animal and more interested in capturing a moment, an action, a way of life. In the simplicity of this sketch, there is an appreciation for the everyday. It invites us to consider the labor, the land, and the lives that are sustained by these animals.