Who painted A cow and calf, and a boatwoman with a child on her back?

A cow and calf, and a boatwoman with a child on her back was painted by George Chinnery in 2.

Where can I see A cow and calf, and a boatwoman with a child on her back?

A cow and calf, and a boatwoman with a child on her back is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A cow and calf, and a boatwoman with a child on her back?

A cow and calf, and a boatwoman with a child on her back is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

A cow and calf, and a boatwoman with a child on her back

George Chinnery , 2

A cow and calf, and a boatwoman with a child on her back 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.

About this work

This drawing shows a cow tied to a calf and a woman on a boat carrying a child. It’s a simple scene but full of life. George Chinnery made it in 1836 using pencil or ink.

The artist traveled a lot and drew everyday moments like this one. Here, he captures two small stories in one frame.

Check out more works on paper by George Chinnery.

Overview

This 1836 drawing by George Chinnery presents two concurrent scenes: a domestic animal pair and a figure engaged in daily activity. The composition juxtaposes a cow tethered to its calf with a boatwoman carrying a child on her back.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing focuses on everyday life, capturing two intimate, mundane moments. The cow and calf represent a serene, natural relationship, while the boatwoman with a child conveys resourcefulness and care in a possibly laborious context.

Technique & Style

Executed in either pencil or ink, the drawing's simplicity belies a depth of observational skill. Chinnery's travel-influenced style is evident in the straightforward, unromanticized depiction of ordinary subjects.

History & Provenance

Created during Chinnery's prolific period of travel and observation, the drawing's provenance details are not specified here, though it is dated to 1836.

Context

Part of Chinnery's broader body of work capturing everyday moments from his travels, this piece reflects his interest in the quiet, unassuming aspects of life across different environments.

Legacy

As with much of Chinnery's work on paper, this drawing contributes to the artist's legacy of nuanced, understated observations of 19th-century daily life, appealing to those interested in the mundane as subject matter.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Chinnery

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.