Landscape with Milkmaid 1622 - 1674

Here is a 'Landscape with Milkmaid' drawing by Jan Lievens made with pen and brown ink. The composition unfolds as a series of layers, each meticulously rendered through line and tone. Notice how Lievens uses hatching to build up the forms of the trees, figures, and animals. See how these lines create a sense of depth, drawing the eye from the foreground with the resting cow to the more distant scene of the milkmaid at work. Consider how the materiality of ink on paper contributes to the overall effect. The transparency of the ink allows the white of the paper to show through, creating a luminous quality. This technique gives the scene a sense of atmospheric perspective, subtly softening the details as they recede into the distance. Ultimately, the drawing offers not just a visual depiction of a pastoral scene, but also a meditation on the act of seeing itself.