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Cow Suckling a Calf
Cow Suckling a calf
Artist and nationality: unknown
Title: Cow Suckling a calf
date/date range of the artwork: 801 CE - 900 CE
period or dynasty : unknown
country of origin: India
Materials: Sandstone. 55.3 × 73.7 × 9.6 cm
Location: Arts of Asia Dept., Gallery 141, ID: 2006.180; Art Institute of Chicago
This gorgeous carving can be dated back to 801 CE and can be seen in stunning shape. The sandstone has worn a bit on the edges where it was extracted from its original place likely being a Hindu temple, but the stone itself still stays smooth in the focal features of the design in a beautiful faded orange color. The cows themselves are aesthetically pretty simple, but the symbolism of cows in Indian culture runs much deeper than a simple farm animal. They are seen as holy animals, hence the phrase ‘holy cow’, and are seen as a symbol of life. This idea is pushed further by showing a mother cow feeding milk to her young- giving life to the calf as well as giving it the nutrients it needs to continue living.
If you would like to learn more about it, please visit the Art Institute of Chicago in person, or virtually at www.artic.edu/artworks/153244/cow-suckling-a-calf
Cow Suckling a Calf
Cow Suckling a calf
Artist and nationality: unknown
Title: Cow Suckling a calf
date/date range of the artwork: 801 CE - 900 CE
period or dynasty : unknown
country of origin: India
Materials: Sandstone. 55.3 × 73.7 × 9.6 cm
Location: Arts of Asia Dept., Gallery 141, ID: 2006.180; Art Institute of Chicago
This gorgeous carving can be dated back to 801 CE and can be seen in stunning shape. The sandstone has worn a bit on the edges where it was extracted from its original place likely being a Hindu temple, but the stone itself still stays smooth in the focal features of the design in a beautiful faded orange color. The cows themselves are aesthetically pretty simple, but the symbolism of cows in Indian culture runs much deeper than a simple farm animal. They are seen as holy animals, hence the phrase ‘holy cow’, and are seen as a symbol of life. This idea is pushed further by showing a mother cow feeding milk to her young- giving life to the calf as well as giving it the nutrients it needs to continue living.
If you would like to learn more about it, please visit the Art Institute of Chicago in person, or virtually at www.artic.edu/artworks/153244/cow-suckling-a-calf