Artwork
Cows at a Watering Place (Vaches a l'abreuvoir)
Cows at a Watering Place (Vaches a l'abreuvoir) is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles François Daubigny. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1862, *Cows at a Watering Place* is a print executed by French artist Charles‑François Da Daubigny.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1862, *Cows at a Watering Place* is a print executed by French artist Charles‑François Da Daubigny. The work presents a somber, mist‑filled countryside where a small herd of cows gathers beside a shallow pool. The composition is dominated by muted tones and a diffuse light that hints at an early morning or evening atmosphere, giving the scene a quiet, contemplative character.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a straightforward rural activity: cattle drinking from a natural water source. By focusing on ordinary farm life, Da Daubigny aligns the piece with the realist impulse to depict everyday labor without romantic embellishment. The subdued palette and hazy backdrop suggest a moment of stillness, inviting viewers to consider the modest rhythms of the countryside.
Technique & Style
After coating the glass with a light‑sensitive emulsion, he traced the scene with ink, then exposed it to light and developed the image as a print.
Da Daubigny employed the cliché‑verre method, a hybrid process that merges photographic exposure with hand‑drawn elements on a glass plate. After coating the glass with a light‑sensitive emulsion, he traced the scene with ink, then exposed it to light and developed the image as a print. This approach yields a texture that balances the precision of photography with the expressive, painterly strokes typical of his landscape work.
History & Provenance
The print emerged during a period when Da Daubigny was actively promoting the cliché‑verre technique among his peers, contributing to its brief popularity in the 1860s. Though originally produced in limited numbers, the work entered several European collections in the late nineteenth century, reflecting the artist’s growing reputation as a bridge between the Barbizon school and the nascent Impressionist movement.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles-François Daubigny ( DOH-bin-yee, US: DOH-been-YEE, doh-BEEN-yee, French: ; 15 February 1817 – 19 February 1878) was a French painter, one of the members of the Barbizon school, and is considered an important precursor of…
