Studie van een koe 1862 - 1913

Alphonse Stengelin made this etching of a cow, a ‘Studie van een koe’, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century in the Netherlands. As a ‘study’, this work captures the artist's exploration of form and texture, evidenced by the minute details of the cow's fur and musculature. In Dutch art, cattle have long served as symbols of national pride and agricultural wealth. Stengelin’s rendering of the cow connects to a broader cultural context, reflecting the Netherlands' deep agricultural roots and its economic dependence on dairy farming. The artist’s choice of such an everyday subject challenges the traditional hierarchies within academic art which favored historical and mythological subjects. Yet, we might ask, does the artist engage with the radical politics of the avant-garde, or does he simply re-affirm the traditional values of Dutch society? To answer these questions requires looking at other works by the artist, as well as the critical reception of his art at the time.