Landschap met rustend en grazend vee 1822 - 1891

This drawing of resting and grazing cattle was made by Simon van den Berg. The monochromatic palette immediately evokes a sense of tranquility and a softness with its gentle gradations. The composition is carefully structured. The landscape is divided into horizontal layers. A serene sky that meets a distant horizon, is followed by a dense, textural middle ground, concluding with the foreground filled with cattle. The artist's command of line and form is evident in the detailed rendering of the animals, capturing their varying postures and textures. The repetition of rounded shapes creates a pleasing visual rhythm. The subtle use of light and shadow models the forms of the animals, and adds depth to the landscape. While seemingly a pastoral scene, the drawing explores the relationship between humanity and nature. It invites viewers to contemplate the harmony and balance between the animal world and the landscape it inhabits. The drawing’s subdued tones invite an ongoing interpretation of the beauty found in simplicity.