Artwork
Grazing Horse
Grazing Horse is an ink print by the Baroque artist Adriaen van de Velde. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1658, *Grazing Horse* is an etching by the Dutch artist Adriaen van de Velde. Executed on paper, the print presents a quiet countryside scene centered on a single horse lowering its head to feed. In the distance, additional horses and a modest building emerge beneath a cloud‑filled sky, conveying a tranquil rural atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on a solitary horse engaged in a natural act of grazing, a motif that underscores the harmony between animal and landscape. The presence of other horses and a simple structure in the background suggests a modest, agrarian setting, inviting contemplation of everyday pastoral life rather than heroic or mythological narrative.
Technique & Style
Van de Velde employs fine, intersecting lines and subtle cross‑hatching to render texture in the horse’s mane, tail, and the surrounding terrain.
Van de Velde employs fine, intersecting lines and subtle cross‑hatching to render texture in the horse’s mane, tail, and the surrounding terrain. Gradations of tone are achieved through varied pressure on the etching needle, creating depth and a sense of atmospheric perspective. The overall style reflects the Dutch Italianate tendency to blend realistic detail with an idealized, serene environment.
History & Provenance
Born and baptized in Amsterdam in 1636, van de Velde worked within the Dutch Italianate school, known for merging local scenery with classical pastoral ideals. *Grazing Horse* was produced during the middle period of his career, shortly before his death in 1672. The print has circulated among collectors of 17th‑century Dutch prints and is documented in several museum collections.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Adriaen van de Velde, was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and print artist. His favorite subjects were landscapes with animals and genre scenes. He also painted beaches, dunes, forests, winter scenes, portraits in…
