Koe in een landschap c. 1881 - 1888

This is Anton Mauve’s pencil drawing, "Cow in a Landscape," currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. The drawing presents a study in tonal variation, achieved through the strategic application of graphite. The composition is deceptively simple, dominated by horizontal and vertical lines that define the landscape and the central bovine figure. Mauve's draftsmanship captures the essence of the cow, yet dissolves into abstraction, challenging traditional landscape representation. Note how the use of line destabilizes the form, inviting a re-evaluation of the figure-ground relationship, typical of the Hague school of painting. The varying pressure and density of pencil strokes create a dynamic texture, suggesting depth and atmosphere. This technique is not merely descriptive, but functions as a self-referential gesture, drawing attention to the materiality of the drawing itself. Through this emphasis on form, Mauve’s work reflects a broader artistic concern with the semiotic potential of art and its capacity for endless re-interpretation.