Who painted Haggling over a Calf?

Haggling over a Calf was painted by Aleksander Kotsis in 1870.

Where can I see Haggling over a Calf?

Haggling over a Calf is held by National Museum in Kraków.

What movement is Haggling over a Calf?

Haggling over a Calf is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Haggling over a Calf

Aleksander Kotsis , 1870

Haggling over a Calf is an oil painting by the Realist artist Aleksander Kotsis. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.

About this work

Overview

Aleksander Kotsis painted *Haggling over a Calf* in 1870. Executed in oil on canvas, the work portrays a brief, everyday encounter in a rural landscape. It is part of the collection of the National Museum in Kraków and exemplifies the artist’s focus on modest, genre scenes drawn from daily Polish life.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows three men in traditional attire negotiating over a young calf. One figure grips the animal by its ears while the others watch, suggesting a moment of informal trade or dispute. The scene captures the ordinary rhythms of countryside commerce, emphasizing communal interaction rather than heroic narrative.

Technique & Style

Kotsis employs a realist approach, rendering textures of clothing, skin, and animal flesh with precise brushwork. A muted palette of earth tones and subdued sky hues conveys a naturalistic atmosphere. Light falls evenly across the figures, highlighting facial expressions and the calf’s form, while the background foliage remains softly defined.

History & Provenance

Created during Kotsis’s early mature period, the painting reflects his synthesis of Romantic sentiment and Realist observation. After its completion it entered the holdings of Kraków’s National Museum, where it remains on view. The work illustrates the artist’s consistent interest in small‑scale genre subjects that documented 19th‑century Polish rural life.

Artist & collection

Artist

Aleksander Kotsis

Aleksander Kotsis (30 May 1836 – 7 August 1877) was a Polish painter. He created landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes in a combination Romantic and Realistic style. Most of his paintings are small. He was born and died in Kraków.