Landschap met stieren c. 1822 - 1863

Arie Ketting de Koningh made this 'Landschap met stieren' drawing, or Landscape with Bulls, using pen and gray ink. The pastoral scene is immediately striking for its ordered arrangement of elements, a feature that guides the viewer's eye across the composition. Two bulls dominate the foreground, each rendered with careful attention to texture and form. The standing bull on the left has a powerful presence, its stance firm and unyielding, while its companion rests, creating a contrast between alertness and repose. Behind them, the landscape unfolds with a gentle rise, leading to a distant horizon. Trees are placed on either side of the bulls, framing the composition, but also giving it an air of enclosure. The drawing’s success lies in its ability to harmonize contrasting states of being within a singular pictorial space. The formal qualities of the artwork, particularly its balanced composition, invite us to consider how such subtle arrangements can reflect and shape our understanding of nature.