Liggende koe, naar links 1788 - 1839

Hendrik Voogd made this drawing of a lying cow in the Netherlands, sometime in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. The image is a simple one, but it’s worth considering the significance of the subject matter. At this time, the Dutch economy was heavily dependent on agriculture. The image of a cow, therefore, would have been readily associated with ideas of national prosperity and well-being. Cows were not just livestock, but symbols of Dutch identity. Dutch artists were also very interested in landscape. The careful rendering of the animal suggests a close observation of nature. To understand this work better, it is useful to look at prints, drawings, and paintings of the period, as well as agricultural records and economic surveys. This helps us understand the values and beliefs of the society in which it was produced. The image is a reminder that even seemingly simple artworks can be rich in historical and cultural meaning.