Koeien en figuren op een heuvel 1864 - 1880

This watercolor painting, "Cows and Figures on a Hill," was made by Johannes Tavenraat in the 19th century. Look closely, and you can see how Tavenraat has taken advantage of the fluid nature of his chosen medium. The thin washes of pigment create a hazy, almost dreamlike atmosphere. This effect is enhanced by the way the colors bleed and blend into one another, particularly in the sky and the distant landscape. These materials are readily available, but this does not mean they are artless. The image is one of rural toil, but also perhaps of a pastoral idyll. The cows, the figures, even the land itself, are defined by their relationship to labor. The artist's hand, moving freely across the paper, mirrors the movement of the figures in the field. Ultimately, this work reminds us that even the simplest of materials can be transformed into something beautiful and meaningful through the skill and vision of an artist. It challenges us to look beyond the surface of things, and to appreciate the labor and the context that go into the making of art.