Liggende koe 1887 - 1889

George Hendrik Breitner created this drawing of a reclining cow with graphite on paper. The drawing presents an intimate study of form and texture, achieved through a delicate interplay of light and shadow. The cow's bulky form dominates the composition, filling the frame in a manner that emphasizes its mass and presence. Breitner’s choice to render the subject in a vertical format is intriguing. It challenges the conventional horizontal orientation typically associated with landscape and animal studies, thus prompting us to reconsider our visual expectations and engage more deeply with the subject. The sketch destabilizes established meanings, prompting us to question our perception of the animal form. The varying pressure and direction of the graphite strokes delineate the curves and contours of the cow’s body, creating a tactile sense of volume. This work uses these techniques not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural discourse around representation and perception in art.