The Male Graze - 1

Added 1686135281 by Steve Tabor.

Men are regularly criticized, not for their involvement in wars, genocides, or environmental destruction, but rather for engaging in what is deemed the reprehensible act of applying the "male gaze" when portraying and admiring female nudes. Renowned Dutch artists, such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Mondrian, consciously avoided painting female nudes but frequently depicted scenes from rural life, often filled with happily grazing cows. Holland is indeed home to approximately 1.6 million cows, including the famous Friesian Holstein breed, which grazes freely in the countryside. The Netherlands boasts the highest density of livestock per unit of agricultural area in Europe. However, the abundance of cows has resulted in a nitrogen crisis, posing a threat to the Dutch soil because of acidification due to their waste. Despite this ecological concern, both visitors and Dutch residents alike frequently pause to admire these grazing beasts, demonstrating a truly astonishing passion for them. Consequently, I dedicate this series to shed light on a social issue that is arguably more severe than the male gaze: the act of males gazing at cows grazing. Through the participation of several models, this image is from a series that presents countryside scenes featuring female nudes and grazing cows. Surprisingly, when shown to a random group of Dutchmen, few could recall even noticing the women depicted in the scenes.