Weaning the Calves

The painting was probably inspired by the artist trip to the Pyrenees, where she did several studies, in 1850, or to the United Kingdom. It depicts a pasture where a cow looks upon her five calves, who are separated from her by an artificial barrier made of wood, stone and debris. The painting works like a metaphore for the process of emancipation of the calves, through their weaning, which in fact, despite being initially difficult, becomes strenghting. The scene of the foreground opens to other pasturelands, where a mountains rocky cabin is depicted, to the left, and five grown up cows are seen to the right. The mountains which serve as background for the painting are majestic and in accordance with the romantic mentality.[2]