Cows and Cowherds, from "Le Magasin Pittoresque" 1848 - 1864

This black and white print, "Cows and Cowherds," was created by Charles Jacque between 1848 and 1864 and is currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The image shows a group of cows and two cowherds tending to them. The cowherd on the left is a woman holding a stick while the other cowherd kneels on the ground to the right of a prominent cow in the center. The print demonstrates a characteristic of Jacque's work: his skillful rendering of animals, especially cattle. This realism, coupled with the serene pastoral setting, makes "Cows and Cowherds" a compelling and memorable depiction of rural life.