Koeien aan de kust 1848 - 1909

This is “Koeien aan de kust” or “Cows on the Coast”, a print made by Armand Collard. The sepia tones and delicate hatching create a tranquil scene, evoking a sense of quiet observation. Collard’s composition employs a horizontal format, mirroring the expansive coastline. The lines of the ground plane converge ever so slightly, suggesting depth and distance. The cows themselves are rendered with an economy of line, yet their forms are solid and grounded. The structural simplicity of the artwork emphasizes the inherent relationship between the animals and their environment. The coast is a liminal space, a boundary between land and sea. Collard uses this setting to explore themes of nature and the pastoral, destabilizing traditional notions of landscape by focusing on the unidealized presence of livestock. He engages with semiotic systems to interpret the cultural codes of rural life, ultimately offering us a view that challenges any fixed narrative.