Studieblad fra Vognserup. Studier af kohove-der, tyrekalve og disses hoveder 1844

Editor: Here we have Johan Thomas Lundbye’s 1844 drawing, “Study Sheet from Vognserup: Studies of Cow Hooves, Bull Calves and Their Heads," created with ink on paper. I'm really struck by how intimate and tender these portraits of cows feel; like I'm getting a glimpse into their bovine souls. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, I'm so glad you feel that tenderness! Lundbye had a deep, almost spiritual connection with the Danish landscape and its creatures. To me, this isn’t just a study of farm animals; it's a reflection on the idyllic simplicity of rural life, almost a form of national Romanticism expressed through… cows. Don't you think there's a distinct calmness in their eyes, a serenity reflecting the Danish countryside itself? Editor: I agree about the calmness. I guess I hadn't considered the nationalistic aspect of it. Do you think the different perspectives on the cows -- some head-on, others in profile -- have a specific purpose? Curator: Absolutely! It's almost like Lundbye is trying to understand the essence of "cowness," viewing his subjects from every possible angle, internalizing their forms and gestures. He’s really seeing them, feeling them. It’s beyond just a technical exercise, isn't it? More like… visual poetry? He lets his feelings flow onto the paper, searching to know this animal's being. It reminds me of when I was little; spending afternoons trying to see the spirits within stones… do you think artists ever really grow up? Editor: That's beautiful! Visual poetry indeed. Now that you mention the multiple perspectives, I notice details I missed, like the subtle variations in their expressions. I initially saw this drawing as a simple study, but it is much richer and more emotionally complex than I had imagined. Curator: Exactly! And isn't that the best part of art – when it reveals itself slowly, layer by layer, inviting you into its world? These cows become fellow travelers in Lundbye’s – and now our – journey.