Dimensions height 27 cm, width 37 cm
Willem Maris created this painting, White Cow, using oil on canvas. The composition is dominated by the large, pale form of the cow, which stands in a shallow pool, its body reflecting the muted light. The colour palette is restrained, with earthy greens and browns in the surrounding vegetation contrasting against the cow's off-white coat. Maris's brushstrokes are loose and expressive, capturing the textures of the animal's fur and the surrounding foliage. This technique aligns with the broader Impressionist movement, where capturing the ephemeral qualities of light and atmosphere was paramount. The semiotic reading reveals the cow as a signifier of pastoral simplicity, a return to nature that was increasingly idealized. The painting can be seen as a dialogue between representation and abstraction, where the familiar subject matter is rendered with a modern emphasis on the materiality of paint and the subjective experience of perception. This approach not only represents a cow but also engages with philosophical questions about how we perceive and interpret the world around us.
Comments
Willem Maris may have used this small painting as a preparatory study for several of his large compositions with a cow. From the cow’s contours, it is clear that it was painted in light colours over a dark brown ground. Willem Maris was the only artist in his group who consistently worked in this way. Most Hague School painters used a light ground.
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