Landschap met liggende koe 1780 - 1851

Pieter Janson’s etching presents a seemingly simple scene: a cow resting in a field. However, within this image lies a connection to a much older symbolic language. Consider the figure of the cow. It evokes ancient associations with fertility, nourishment, and maternal power, stretching back to the Egyptian goddess Hathor. The symbolism of the cow transcended geographical and temporal boundaries. Even in classical mythology, we see its presence in stories like that of Io, transformed into a heifer. The presence of the cow, heavy with symbolic weight, taps into our collective memory, a connection to a primal past that resonates deeply within us. Janson’s work brings us face-to-face with the enduring power of archetypes, demonstrating how motifs evolve and reappear across cultures.