Studieblad fra Vognserup. Foroven studier af køer, f.n. land-skab med stående og liggende køer 1844

Johan Thomas Lundbye made this study sheet at Vognserup, using pen and brown ink on paper. The drawing gives an insight into the detailed observation involved in landscape painting. Lundbye’s attentiveness to the cows’ anatomy – their weight, texture, and form – is notable. The landscape shows the animals situated within their working environment. He made the work in preparation for larger paintings. Lundbye’s practice speaks to the agrarian economy of Denmark in the 19th century. Cows were not just animals, but a source of livelihood; their care a form of labor. In a way, Lundbye’s drawing acknowledges the labor of the cows themselves. He is interested in their contribution to the landscape, not just its aesthetic appearance. Ultimately, this humble study reminds us that art-making is also a form of labor, requiring careful study, and skill. It breaks down hierarchies between the animal, the agrarian worker, and the artist.