Landscape with Two Donkeys, Goats and Pigs

Dujardin employs chiaroscuro to model the forms, giving the animals and foliage a palpable sense of volume. The handling of light and shadow, together with a muted palette, creates atmospheric depth and emphasizes the tranquil mood of the landscape.

After its creation in the mid‑17th century, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display as a representative example of Dujardin’s Italianate phase.

Dujardin spent two significant periods in Italy, early and later in his career, and his work often reflects the influence of Italian scenery and pastoral genre. This piece aligns with his series of small landscapes populated by peasants and livestock, a popular motif among Dutch artists who sought to combine northern realism with southern light.