Liggende koeien in een weiland 1848 - 1888

This sketch of "Liggende koeien in een weiland" at the Rijksmuseum was made by Anton Mauve, using graphite on paper. The composition presents a cluster of cows in repose, their forms rendered with an economy of line and tone. Mauve's marks range from delicate, almost ethereal strokes, to areas of dense shading that give weight and volume to the animals’ bodies. The sketch is both representational and abstract. It uses clear visual elements to depict the subject and reveals the underlying structure of form and space. The cows are not merely represented; they are studies in mass and contour, line and shadow. The blank areas are integral, offering a counterpoint to the areas of activity and suggesting depth. This interplay of presence and absence, the way Mauve balances detail with suggestion, invites us to consider the semiotic function of the sketch. In its incompleteness, it opens up a space for interpretation, challenging any fixed meaning.