Kop van een koe, door de spijlen van een stal 1775 - 1833

Curator: Jean Bernard’s “Kop van een koe, door de spijlen van een stal,” roughly translated to "Head of a cow, through the bars of a stable," likely created between 1775 and 1833, invites a look at the intersection of the agrarian and the artistic through a humble pencil drawing. Editor: My goodness, that cow looks positively miserable. It’s the bars, of course, but there’s something so mournful in its eye. Gives you a little pang, doesn’t it? Curator: It's fascinating to consider Bernard's choice to portray the animal this way. Is he simply documenting the realities of animal husbandry, or making a subtle commentary on agricultural labor? The very visible pencil strokes are as much about depicting the cow as they are about displaying the work involved in artistic creation. Editor: Well, I'd say there's empathy, even if unintentional. Notice how the light catches the curve of the horn? There’s almost tenderness in the shading there. Makes me think of old farming families… the labor, sure, but also the closeness to the land and its creatures. Was pencil his go-to? You get a completely different feel with oils or watercolors. Curator: He seemed drawn to the directness and immediacy of pencil, emphasizing its capacity to represent everyday scenes and engage with socio-economic conditions of rural life with very available material. The work exists not simply as the end product, but as evidence of the means and setting. Editor: Right! It's interesting that by showing us the means, Bernard also manages to evoke the moo-d—forgive the pun! The realism is almost unbearable because you almost hear it. Curator: Considering its materiality helps one look past sentimental impressions and locate value in a demonstration of the artistic labour it represents. Editor: And I, against my better judgment, can only appreciate how all that translates into its felt experience! Curator: So it appears even disagreements in viewpoint have a unique benefit. Editor: Indeed! On that note, perhaps it’s best if we move on to the next piece... lest I start advocating for improved bovine living conditions based on a pencil sketch!