Cows in the woods 1938

Ivan Generalic made 'Cows in the Woods', painting a landscape using thin layers of oil to create a scene that feels both familiar and dreamlike. Up close, the textures are so precise, especially in the trees; each branch seems carefully considered. The cows have this beautiful soft gray and white coloring. It feels like Generalic is inviting us into a world where the everyday is touched with a bit of magic. Look at how the landscape stretches into the distance, with those tiny houses nestled among the trees. It reminds me of early Renaissance painting, where the background is as important as what's happening up front. There's a sense of peace here, a quiet harmony between the cows, the woods, and the distant village. It's a world where everything seems to fit just so. Maybe he looked at Bruegel, maybe not.