Artwork
Cows in a Field
Cows in a Field is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Anthonie van Borssom. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
An oil on canvas painted in 1661 by Dutch artist Anthonie van Borssom, *Cows in a Field* depicts a tranquil rural scene. The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it is displayed among other examples of 17th‑century Dutch landscape painting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a group of cattle scattered across a verdant meadow. Some animals stand while others lie down, suggesting a moment of undisturbed grazing. The calm disposition of the herd conveys an idealized vision of pastoral life, emphasizing harmony between livestock and their environment.
Technique & Style
Van Borssom employs oil pigments to render subtle variations of light and shadow, creating a modest sense of depth across the field. The handling of brushwork suggests a careful modeling of the cows’ forms, while the surrounding foliage is suggested with looser strokes, balancing detail with atmospheric suggestion.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the early 1660s, the painting has remained within the European art market, eventually entering the holdings of Denmark’s national gallery. The Statens Museum for Kunst acquired the work as part of its effort to represent Dutch Golden Age genre scenes, and it has been catalogued under the museum’s Dutch painting collection.
Artist & collection
