Voorstudie van gips voor penning met buffels en paarden. 1876 - 1947

This is Lambertus Zijl's plaster study for a medal with buffalos and horses. The monochrome palette emphasizes the textures created by the artist. The bas-relief technique uses minimal depth, yet Zijl's modeling creates a powerful, tactile presence. Consider how the composition is structured: the circular form of the medal frames a scene of pastoral labor. The buffalos are centrally positioned, their muscular forms dominating the foreground. This draws our eye to the animals and their role in agricultural work. Zijl's choice of plaster as a medium is also significant. Plaster, often associated with classical sculpture, lends the artwork a sense of historical weight. However, the rough, unfinished texture of the plaster also brings a modern sensibility to the piece. It challenges traditional notions of artistic perfection. The interplay between classical form and modernist texture invites us to reconsider our expectations of sculpture and its capacity to represent both tradition and progress.