Artwork
Two Cows under a Tree
Two Cows under a Tree is an ink print by the Baroque artist Adriaen van de Velde. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Adriaen van de Velde, a mid‑17th‑century Dutch artist, produced the print *Two Cows under a Tree* circa 1670. Executed as an etching with dry‑point accents, the work measures a modest size typical of his prints and presents a quiet rural scene rendered with the compositional balance characteristic of his oeuvre.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows a pair of brown cows beneath a leafy tree. The left-hand animal grazes, while its companion turns its head toward the viewer, creating a subtle dialogue between the figures and the observer. The tree’s trunk and branches frame the scene, suggesting a sheltered, almost theatrical space within an everyday landscape.
Technique & Style
Van de Velde employed traditional copper‑plate etching, complemented by dry‑point lines that produce a softer, velvety edge. The combination yields crisp outlines for the cows and tree alongside delicate tonal gradations that model the bark and foliage. The overall effect is a restrained yet finely detailed rendering, typical of his careful, almost lyrical approach to animal subjects.
History & Provenance
Born and baptized in Amsterdam in 1636, van de Velde worked within the Dutch Italianate tradition, merging northern pastoral motifs with compositional influences from Italian art. *Two Cows under a Tree* entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century Dutch prints.
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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…
