Koeien 1840 - 1880

This drawing of cows was sketched by Johannes Tavenraat. Cows, seemingly simple subjects, are anything but. They are primal symbols with profound cultural resonance, echoing through millennia. Here, their placid forms belie a powerful presence in the collective unconscious, recalling ancient myths of nourishment and sacrifice. Consider the Egyptian goddess Hathor, often depicted as a cow, embodying motherhood and abundance. Or the sacred cows of Hinduism, revered as symbols of life and fertility. These associations linger, coloring our perception of even the most mundane bovine image. Tavenraat’s seemingly straightforward sketches tap into this deep well of cultural memory, evoking a sense of pastoral tranquility but also hinting at the latent power of these ancient symbols. The cow as a symbol has evolved, yet its fundamental connection to our well-being remains.