Herder met een schaapskudde bij een groep bomen c. 1876 - 1888

This is a charcoal drawing, likely a preparatory sketch, created by Anton Mauve, a Dutch painter known for his landscapes and scenes of rural life, sometime between 1876 and 1888. The artwork, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts a simple scene of a shepherd with a flock of sheep under a canopy of trees. Mauve's loose, expressive brushstrokes create a sense of movement and atmosphere, suggesting a fleeting glimpse of the Dutch countryside. The drawing showcases the artist's mastery of light and shadow, with the trees and figures emerging from a hazy background.