Artwork
A Chinese porter and a cow
A Chinese porter and a cow is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 2 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This drawing depicts two everyday subjects: a young cow and a porter burdened with baskets, offering a glimpse into mundane life.
About this work
Overview
This drawing depicts two everyday subjects: a young cow and a porter burdened with baskets, offering a glimpse into mundane life.
Subject & Meaning
The scene juxtaposes a serene animal with a laborer, highlighting the coexistence of natural calm and human toil in daily existence.
Technique & Style
The drawing's expressive and emotive qualities align with Romanticist tendencies, emphasizing the portrayal of ordinary life with sensitivity.
Context
The porter's use of a shoulder pole for carrying baskets reflects a common, practical solution for managing heavy loads in the depicted era.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Chinnery (Chinese: 錢納利; 5 January 1774 – 30 May 1852) was an English painter who spent most of his life in Asia, especially India and southern China.
A figure seated between two baskets, and a cow
A Chinese man with a pole and basket, and two cows
Two drawings of a cow and calf
Untitled
Cows, and a figure carrying a basket
A cow and calf
A cow and calf
A Chinese figure with a cow and calf
A cow and calf
Two drawings of a cow
Sketches of Chinese figures and cows