Artwork

Stående rødbroget ko

Stående rødbroget ko, by Unknown, 1872
Stående rødbroget ko, by Unknown, 1872

Stående rødbroget ko is a photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Stående rødbroget ko, executed in 1872 by the artist identified as 987_person, is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a monochrome depiction of a cow positioned within a modestly enclosed space, its body rendered in a pale tone contrasted by darker markings on the head and back.

Subject & Meaning

The image focuses on a single bovine, captured in a moment of stillness. By isolating the animal against a subdued backdrop, the composition emphasizes the everyday presence of livestock, inviting contemplation of rural labor and the quiet dignity of farm life.

Technique & Style

Rendered in black and white, the piece employs soft, blended brushwork that models light and shade across the animal’s form, lending it a three‑dimensional quality. The background is deliberately softened, a technique that directs attention to the cow while suggesting an atmospheric, slightly out‑of‑focus environment.

History & Provenance

Created in the late nineteenth century, the work entered the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s interest in visual records of agrarian culture and everyday practices from that period.

Context

The piece aligns with the Realist tradition that sought to portray ordinary subjects with fidelity and without embellishment. Its straightforward representation of a working animal mirrors broader artistic efforts of the era to document the material conditions of rural societies.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known