Farmyard with dovecote 

Abraham Bloemaert painted this scene with oil on canvas sometime in the 17th century. You can see the artist's hand in the loose brushwork that evokes the textures of the farmyard. Bloemaert’s choice of subject matter elevates the everyday. The farm structures, the animals, the woman at work – all painted with care. The very act of painting these common scenes gives them an aesthetic weight, which was traditionally reserved for grand historical narratives. The colors, too, are earthy and muted, highlighting the raw materials that make up the scene. There's wood in the structures, thatch on the roofs, and soil underfoot. The whole painting then becomes a testament to the dignity of labor and the beauty of simple materials, reminding us that art can be found in the most ordinary places.