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In the seventeenth century, draining swamps and building canals resulted in the increase of arable lands in Holland, more animals could be grazed on the pastures, agriculture was modernized and commercialised, while the export of cheese and butter brought massive profits. The cow became the symbol of plenty and of productivity. The emblem books linked the cow with earth, spring, prosperity and moderation, and, in a general sense, it represented the country of Holland itself. Animal painters strove not only to capture the animal's character, but also to convey the joyful calm of the surrounding land, the smooth mirror of water and the afternoon light shining through the airy clouds.
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