Ontwerp voor bord van het model ‘Square’ met grazende koe c. 1875 - 1880

Curator: Albert-Louis Dammouse designed this watercolor, “Ontwerp voor bord van het model ‘Square’ met grazende koe,” sometime between 1875 and 1880. The name translates to "Design for a plate of the 'Square' model with a grazing cow." Editor: It’s interesting how the whole composition, especially the decorative border, gives me the feeling of an idealized, pastoral vision—calm and almost nostalgically simple. The delicate washes of color are lovely, too. Curator: The artist plays on traditional symbolism. The cow often represents gentleness and nurturing. Its act of grazing speaks to nourishment and abundance. Paired, the image suggests the virtues of rural life. Editor: Absolutely, but structurally speaking, note how the square format itself reinforces that sense of enclosure, safety even. And the branches—oak, perhaps?—frame the scene, visually protecting it. The softness of the watercolour adds to this dreamlike quality. Curator: I would say the work likely aims to conjure an idea of the idyllic countryside within the domestic sphere. The plate itself, destined for the dining table, would constantly remind its user of this romantic ideal. Dammouse transforms everyday life into ritual through art. Editor: Though there is also the possibility, when analyzing this image, to consider how the decorative and fine arts during this period served to reaffirm social norms. It feels staged—constructed in its attempt to idealize this image of the natural world and man's dominion over it. Curator: The cultural memory certainly adds a layer of understanding here; this plate represents so much more than bucolic fantasy. The image can almost trigger that yearning to connect back with the earth through visual symbols, just like it did more than a century ago. Editor: The balance between surface and symbol that emerges as one inspects Dammouse’s watercolor reveals some fascinating intersections within artistic intent and cultural ideals. Curator: It truly enriches our appreciation.