Landschap met vee 1816 - 1879

Louis Robbe crafted this landscape with cattle in an etching around the 19th century. Here, the cow is not merely an animal, but a symbol, deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. The prominent depiction of cattle, reminiscent of agrarian life, echoes ancient fertility symbols, like the Egyptian goddess Hathor, often depicted as a cow, representing nourishment. One might consider, how this docile animal has been transformed by time and cultural context. The psychological weight of the cow image evokes feelings of serenity and the idyllic life. Yet, in contrast with the Romantics who glorified the sublime forces of nature, Robbe subtly directs our gaze towards the serene and the domesticated. It is in this contrast between nature's raw power and its gentle, life-sustaining aspects, that the artist opens a dialogue about our relationship with the natural world.