Artwork
Cattle in a Pool
Cattle in a Pool is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Carleton Wiggins. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1892, *Cattle in a Pool* is an oil painting by American artist Carleton Wiggins. The work depicts a quiet pastoral scene where a group of cows congregates around a waterhole amid a verdant landscape. A solitary figure walks along a dirt track with a cow in the distance, adding a narrative element to the tranquil setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the cattle, rendered in muted browns and whites, emphasizing their natural presence within the countryside. One animal bends to drink, while others stand nearby, suggesting a moment of communal rest. The distant human figure hints at the ongoing relationship between farmer and herd, underscoring themes of harmony between people, animals, and the land.
Technique & Style
Wiggins employs broad, flowing brushstrokes characteristic of American Impressionism, favoring a low‑key palette of greens, earth tones, and soft shadows. The handling of light across the water’s surface and the textured foliage demonstrates his training at the National Academy of Design and influence from mentors such as George Inness, while maintaining a realistic solidity in the animal forms.
History & Provenance
Born in 1848, Wiggins studied both in New York and Paris before establishing a reputation for landscapes featuring livestock. *Cattle in a Pool* entered the Brooklyn Museum’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of late‑19th‑century American art, reflecting the museum’s commitment to regional genre painting.
Context
During the late 1800s, American artists increasingly turned to rural subjects to capture a rapidly changing nation. Wiggins’ focus on cattle aligns with this trend, offering a visual record of agrarian life at a time when industrialization was reshaping the American landscape. The painting thus serves both as a study of natural light and a document of contemporary pastoral culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carleton Wiggins NA (1848–1932) was an American landscape and cattle painter. He was born in Turner, Orange County, New York, and studied in New York at the National Academy of Design and with George Inness, and in…
