Liggende koe, van voren 1821

Jean Bernard made this drawing of a 'Liggende koe, van voren', or 'Reclining Cow, Front View', with pen in grey ink in 1821. Bernard was born in France, during the height of the Enlightenment; a period that changed the way people thought about society, politics, and science. Notice the cow’s passive posture. While it doesn't immediately scream revolution, this simple drawing challenges traditional artistic conventions. In the Dutch Golden Age cattle were a symbol of national pride. They were often depicted in idealized pastoral scenes that emphasized prosperity. Bernard, however, approaches his subject with an almost scientific interest. Instead of a symbol he offers us an individual. By focusing on the mundane details of rural life Bernard asks us to reconsider our relationship with nature. It’s an invitation to find beauty and value in the everyday.