Cows in a Pasture c. 19th century

Editor: This drawing, "Cows in a Pasture" by Constant Troyon, appears to be done in chalk and pencil. I'm struck by how the artist used such simple materials to capture the texture of the cows' hides and the vastness of the field. What can you tell me about the materiality of this work? Curator: The choice of chalk and pencil is telling. Consider the accessibility of these materials in the 19th century. They speak to a democratization of art, moving away from the exclusive realm of oils and canvas. Troyon's focus on the working-class animal and rural life further shifts the focus away from the elite and into the realm of everyday experience. How does that affect your understanding? Editor: It suggests a closer connection to the actual labor involved in agriculture, rather than just depicting a romanticized version. Curator: Precisely. The medium is part of the message; the humble materials reinforce the image's focus on the tangible realities of rural life. It makes you consider the production that makes it possible.