Koe met kalf in een stal before 1870

Joseph Zephyris Gengembre made this lithograph titled "Cow with Calf in a Stable" sometime during his career in the mid-19th century. During this period, the rise of industrialization and urbanization led to a romanticized view of rural life, where the agricultural landscape was celebrated for its simplicity and connection to nature. Gengembre’s decision to depict a cow and her calf evokes themes of motherhood, care, and the pastoral ideal. However, it's worth noting that such images often glossed over the harsh realities of agricultural labor and the commodification of animals in the farming industry. These animals exist for human consumption; their images are deployed to sell an idea of idyllic country life. Consider the cow's gaze—does it convey a sense of calm contentment, or perhaps a hint of the burdens of motherhood within a system that values her for productivity? What do you feel when you look at the lithograph? This work serves not only as a portrait of farm animals but as a reflection of societal values and the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.