Wooded Landscape with Cattle at the Edge of a River c. 1657 - 1670

Roelant Roghman created "Wooded Landscape with Cattle at the Edge of a River" using pen and brown ink, and grey wash. At first glance, this drawing may seem like a simple landscape. But look closer, and you'll see Roghman's meticulous technique in the layering of washes, creating depth and atmosphere. The pen work is equally precise, defining the forms of the trees and cattle with economical lines. This was no quick sketch. Roghman was an accomplished draughtsman, and this work exemplifies the skilled traditions of 17th-century Dutch landscape drawing. However, it also reflects a specific social and economic context. The Dutch Golden Age was a time of increasing urbanization and commercial activity. Landscapes like this one often served as idealized visions of rural life, a counterpoint to the bustle and demands of city life. By depicting cattle at the edge of the river, Roghman also acknowledges the agricultural foundation upon which the Netherlands' economic success was built. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that even seemingly simple landscapes are products of both artistic skill and social conditions.