Cattle Watering on the River Stour 1893

William Sidney Cooper completed this pastoral scene, "Cattle Watering on the River Stour", using oil paints on canvas. The surface of the canvas would have been prepared with gesso to create a smooth ground for the delicate application of paint. Notice how the artist uses thin, translucent layers to build up the forms of the cattle, their reflections shimmering in the water. These are juxtaposed with the thicker impasto of the foliage and the weathered texture of the old farm buildings. Cooper was working at a time when agricultural practices were undergoing significant change. With the emergence of industrial farming, the older methods, such as those depicted here, were disappearing. The artist has imbued the painting with a sense of nostalgia, an idealized vision of rural England. Although this may appear to be just a simple record, it is infused with social meaning. Consider the labor involved in raising these animals and tending the land. The painting reminds us of the vital connection between our daily lives and those who work the land.