Twee liggende koeien met lange horens 1788 - 1839

Hendrik Voogd made this drawing of two resting cows with a graphite pencil. The Netherlands during the late 18th and early 19th centuries was a society in transition. The Dutch Republic was coming to an end and being replaced by new political systems. This drawing reflects the interest in rural life that grew with the rise of Romanticism. But it also suggests something about the economic realities of the time. Cattle were a crucial form of capital. The careful rendering of these animals’ features could show off the owner's wealth and status. Voogd may have intended to capture the ideal image of the Dutch countryside. Or maybe it was a commission for a wealthy landowner. Art history teaches us that even seemingly simple images can reveal complex social and economic meanings. By researching the history of Dutch agriculture and the patronage of the arts, we can better understand the social role that this drawing once played.