Liggende koe 1878 - 1910

Léopold Haeck created this etching titled 'Liggende koe,' depicting a resting cow. The composition is a study in contrasts, using dense, textural strokes to define the cow against the lighter, more loosely rendered background. Haeck's use of line and form transcends mere representation, engaging with the tradition of animal studies while subtly destabilizing conventional pastoral scenes. The cow, rendered with heavy lines, seems to occupy a space that is both present and withdrawn. This visual interplay between presence and absence is reminiscent of structuralist approaches to art, where meaning is derived not from the object itself, but from its relationship to a system of signs. Haeck is not merely showing us a cow but prompting a dialogue about how we perceive and categorize the natural world. The cow, both solid and dissolving into the background, functions as a signifier, challenging fixed interpretations.