Twee koeien en twee schapen onder een boom bij een schuur 1778 - 1820

Hendrik Stokvisch made this drawing with brush in gray ink, depicting two cows and two sheep under a tree by a shed. The monochromatic palette and soft gradations of tone create a serene and pastoral atmosphere, inviting contemplation on the relationship between humans, animals, and nature. The composition is structured by the contrast between the organic forms of the animals and foliage, and the geometric lines of the shed. This juxtaposition plays with pictorial space, challenging the viewer's perception of depth and perspective. Stokvisch uses the semiotic system of pastoral imagery to communicate ideas about rural life and the natural world. The animals, rendered with careful attention to form and texture, function as signs within this visual language, evoking associations with themes of harmony and simplicity. Through the structural interplay of lines, shapes, and tones, the artist destabilizes fixed meanings, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.