Liggende koe 1862 - 1938

Curator: This is Alphonse Stengelin's "Liggende koe," or "Lying Cow," which he likely created sometime between 1862 and 1938, rendered in graphite. Editor: It’s quite charming! Immediately, I feel a sense of peace and quiet observation. The lines are simple, but they capture the weight and form of the animal in a way that feels very present. There’s a vulnerability too, an acceptance of being seen. Curator: Yes, and to consider its time, rural life and agrarian values were shifting drastically. Paintings of animals, particularly cows, were less about portraying an idealised countryside, and more about showing working animals. It reflects a cultural interest in portraying these elements in realistic way. Editor: I wonder though, is that shift entirely innocent? We cannot remove these drawings from the historical implications related to production and consumption. How often are those vulnerable cows ever seen this way in their day-to-day lives. The art becomes an idealized form far removed from the violence enacted upon these creatures daily. Curator: That’s a compelling perspective to consider, bringing awareness to how even seemingly simple artworks reflect complex power dynamics. Think of Rosa Bonheur and her monumental paintings. There's certainly a strong connection there to ideas of productivity and how livestock contributed to emerging capitalist markets in France and elsewhere. Editor: Exactly. By taking the time to depict this single, reclining cow, the artist draws our attention to labor, production, and consumption, raising difficult ethical and existential questions. It's not just a pastoral scene. It has many contemporary touchstones if one dares to dive deeply. Curator: Ultimately, the sketch embodies a pastoral scene, but also prompts us to reflect on larger cultural and economic forces in action. Thank you for making visible these multiple layers. Editor: My pleasure. Even in what appears to be the simplest of artworks, history simmers, waiting to challenge us.