Superb lithograph by Lucien FAURE (1828-1904), titled "The Cow", depicting a rural scene imbued with realism and finesse. This work testifies to the artist's talent in representing the peasant world and animal bestiary.

• Technique: Lithograph
• Signature: Signed and dedicated lower right
• Dimensions: 45 x 63 cm (17.72 x 24.80 inches)
• Condition: Good overall condition, with slight signs of age consistent with its antiquity.

The work "The Curious Cow" by Lucien Faure (1828-1904) is part of the 19th-century tradition of rural scenes, where animals occupy a central place in popular and artistic imagination.

Symbolism of the Work:

1. The Cow as a Symbol of Gentleness and Rurality
   The cow is often associated with gentleness, fertility, and nourishment, being a key element of agricultural life. In 19th-century depictions, it is perceived as a symbol of prosperity and stability.

2. Curiosity and Anthropomorphism
   By titling his work "The Curious Cow", Lucien Faure humanizes the animal, giving it an almost childlike attitude. Curiosity is an intellectual quality, generally attributed to humans, which enhances the emotional bond between humans and animals.

3. The Spectator's Gaze
   The cow, often turned towards the observer, creates a direct interaction. This gaze can symbolize a moment of mutual observation, where human and animal discover each other in a silent dialogue.

4. Idealized Peasant Life
   At a time when industrialization was accelerating, naturalist artists like Lucien Faure highlighted simple and peaceful scenes of agricultural life. The cow thus became an emblematic figure of the countryside, a nostalgic reminder of an authentic way of life.

5. A Legacy of Realism and Naturalism
   His work is in line with animal realism, influenced by painters such as Rosa Bonheur or Constant Troyon, who sought to represent animals faithfully, without exaggeration or romantic idealism.

Lucien Faure, also known as Louis-Lucien Faure-Dujarric, was a French artist born in 1828 and died in 1904. He is primarily recognized for his lithographs and posters illustrating scenes from daily life, animals, and advertisements.

Among his notable works are "The Curious Cow or the Return from the Fields", a lithograph depicting a rural scene with a cow, and "En Panne" (Broken Down), a color lithograph from 1903 illustrating a broken-down automobile. He also created advertising posters, such as "The Empire Typewriter, the Leading Writing Machine of the World", a color lithograph published around 1897.

Lucien Faure's works are valued for their detailed and vivid representation of 19th-century daily life, as well as for their contribution to the field of advertising posters.

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