Koeien 1611 - 1661

Editor: Here we have an engraving entitled "Koeien", or "Cows," dating roughly from 1611 to 1661, attributed to an anonymous artist and held at the Rijksmuseum. It's a scene of cows, as the title suggests, but the size of the cattle compared to the figure and vegetation gives it a slightly unsettling feel. What can you tell us about it? Curator: The print offers a valuable lens into the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age. Genre painting, and landscapes specifically, gained immense popularity during this period. Editor: Right, because it reflects everyday life? Curator: Precisely. These scenes celebrated a burgeoning sense of national identity and economic prosperity. Notice how the cows and vegetation seem exaggerated; they symbolize wealth and fertility, particularly crucial for a society that had recently gained independence through agriculture and trade. This elevation of the ordinary was something new. Do you notice anything about the scale? Editor: I do find it odd. It seems a bit out of proportion, with the cows feeling immense. And why include cabbages? Curator: Think of it this way, who were the new patrons of art during this era? Editor: A rising merchant class? Curator: Exactly! These pieces served to validate their power. Making these cabbages – and cows – larger than life perhaps demonstrates what common themes preoccupied their vision and the imagery that resonated most. So, what do you take away from our talk today? Editor: I see this image with fresh eyes. It reflects social and political context as much as it shows simple landscape.