Grazende koeien 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve’s pencil drawing, "Grazing Cows," captures a pastoral scene that evokes a sense of tranquility and the eternal rhythms of nature. Cows grazing have long symbolized nourishment, abundance, and the life-giving forces of the earth. Throughout history, the cow has appeared as a maternal figure, as seen in ancient Egyptian depictions of the goddess Hathor, embodying fertility and sustenance. In contrast, consider how the image of the bull, a relative of the cow, is linked to male virility and power, like the Cretan Bull of the Minotaur myth. In Mauve’s drawing, the cows stand quietly in their field. Their downcast heads evoke a feeling of serene contentment. We can see, through our collective memory, how these simple symbols, the cow and the bull, resonate deeply. Mauve taps into a powerful connection with nature, reminding us of the cyclical, non-linear progression of life.