Three Oxen c. 1910

John Singer Sargent made "Three Oxen" using loose washes of watercolor, probably en plein air. The painting emerges in strokes of pale yellow, ochre, and brown, capturing the oxen nestled in a shadowy stable. I imagine Sargent, squinting slightly, trying to capture the shifting light on those big, gentle forms. He must have felt the weight of the air, thick with the smell of hay and animal warmth. See how he uses transparent layers to suggest the textures of fur and straw? The oxen become these soft, monumental shapes, a symphony of browns, creams, and whites. The overall effect is less about precise rendering and more about conveying a mood, a feeling of quiet intimacy. It's a slice of life, observed with empathy and painted with bravura. Like a visual poem. It reminds me a bit of Courbet's interest in rural life and everyday subjects. But Sargent brings his own fluid touch to it, a kind of tenderness that makes you want to reach out and stroke those gentle giants.