Twee koeien aan de oever van een rivier c. 1788 - 1814

This drawing by Jan Kobell the Younger depicts two cows at the edge of a river. In the context of the Dutch Golden Age, cattle were powerful symbols of prosperity and national pride, representing the fertile lands and economic success of the Netherlands. But if we look deeper, we will notice how the serene image of cows by the water’s edge echoes through art history. Think of Europa and the Bull, a motif stretching back to ancient Greek mythology, where the bull is both a divine symbol and an agent of transformation. The cow, though more pastoral, carries a similar weight. Like the ever-changing form of Proteus, these bovine images shift from symbols of simple agrarian life to embodiments of deeper, more primal energies. Consider how collective memory and subconscious desires might shape the re-emergence and re-interpretation of these symbols across different eras. This image touches a chord within us, linking us back to ancient pastoral traditions, resonating with a deep, almost primordial sense of connection. It is a non-linear progression, continually resurfacing and evolving.