Koeien aan een sloot 

Anton Mauve created this painting, likely in the late 19th century, using oil paints and brushes on canvas. Mauve was celebrated for his ability to capture light and atmosphere, turning everyday scenes into things of beauty. Here, the texture of the paint itself is key. See how he’s used thick strokes to build up the forms of the cows and the surrounding landscape? This technique, known as impasto, gives the painting a tactile quality, as if you could reach out and touch the rough hides of the animals or the grassy field. The painting gives us a glimpse into rural life at a time when the Netherlands was undergoing rapid industrialization. The subject matter, of cows grazing in a pasture, reflects a nostalgia for a simpler, more agrarian way of life, even as the country was becoming more urban and industrialized. Looking closely at the materiality of this painting allows us to connect it with broader cultural themes. It challenges our understanding of art history, inviting us to reconsider the boundary between fine art and craft.