Three Sheep by a Cottage (recto)/Sketches of Cows (verso)

Buhot combines black crayon, gray wash, pen, and brown ink on wove paper, creating a layered effect of line and tone. The drawing balances bold, gestural strokes with delicate washes, allowing the forms of the sheep and the surrounding landscape to emerge with a sense of immediacy and texture.

Created in the early 1870s, the piece entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century. Its presence in the museum’s drawing department reflects the institution’s commitment to representing French drawing practices of the late nineteenth century.

Buhot’s work aligns with the broader Romantic interest in nature and the everyday, where artists often rendered rural subjects with an emphasis on atmosphere and emotional resonance. The dual-sided format—landscape on one side, animal sketches on the other—illustrates a common practice among artists of the period to explore multiple studies within a single sheet.