Oxen in the Meadow 1806

Jan Kobell II painted "Oxen in the Meadow," using oil on panel. The painting's composition is dominated by the imposing presence of two oxen set against a sweeping sky. The animals are rendered with a striking contrast in colour and texture. Kobell utilizes a formal structure that subtly engages with the picturesque tradition. The oxen are not merely subjects but formal elements that define the pictorial space. The brown ox on the left provides a dark mass, which is then balanced by the lighter, grazing ox on the right. The contrast in colour, from the earth tones of the foreground to the blues and greys of the sky, creates a dynamic tension. The brushstrokes and texture emphasize the animals' mass and form. The painting thus destabilizes a simple pastoral scene, transforming it into a study of form, colour, and composition. It compels us to see beyond the surface, inviting a deeper engagement with the visual language of painting itself.