Koeien in de wei 1885

Albert Heinrich Brendel captured this scene of 'Cows in the Meadow' with etching around 1880, now held at the Rijksmuseum. In this pastoral scene, the cow emerges as a central motif, steeped in layers of meaning that span across cultures and epochs. The cow, a symbol of nurture and plenty, echoes across time, harking back to ancient goddesses like Hathor, revered in Egypt as a maternal figure of abundance. Here, in Brendel's etching, the cows evoke a sense of tranquility and a connection to the earth. Consider how this bovine symbol has journeyed through art history. From the sacred cows of ancient India, symbols of reverence, to the works of artists like Paulus Potter, who celebrated the animal's presence in the Dutch landscape. This enduring image speaks to our profound connection to nature. It evolves across time, embodying themes of pastoral harmony, sustenance, and a deep, often subconscious, longing for simpler times.