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’s print *Two Cows under a Tree* dates to the final years of his career, around 1670. Executed as an etching, the work presents a modest rural tableau in which a pair of cattle rests beneath a leafy canopy. The composition is restrained, emphasizing quietude over narrative drama, and exemplifies the artist’s focus on pastoral subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The image centers on two bovines, one oriented toward the viewer and the other turned away, their pelts rendered in muted brown and white tones. The tree above provides shelter and frames the animals, suggesting a moment of peaceful coexistence between livestock and landscape. The work invites contemplation of everyday agrarian life rather than allegorical interpretation.
Technique & Style
Van de Velde employed the delicate line work characteristic of Dutch etching, using fine cross‑hatching to suggest the texture of fur and the dappled shadows beneath the tree. The bark is sketched with a slightly rougher hand, creating contrast between the smooth animal forms and the more rugged vegetation. The overall effect is a balanced, low‑key rendering that conveys stillness.
History & Provenance
Born and baptized in Amsterdam in 1636, van de Velde worked within the Dutch Italianate circle, merging northern countryside motifs with influences from Italian landscape painting. He died in 1672, and *Two Cows under a Tree* is among the later prints he produced. The piece has circulated in several European collections, most notably appearing in 19th‑century Dutch print catalogues.
Context
The work reflects the period’s interest in naturalistic detail and the technical possibilities of printmaking as a means of disseminating such images.
During the mid‑17th century, Dutch artists often depicted bucolic scenes that celebrated the prosperity of rural life. Van de Velde’s etching aligns with this trend, sharing visual language with contemporaries who favored serene, animal‑filled landscapes. The work reflects the period’s interest in naturalistic detail and the technical possibilities of printmaking as a means of disseminating such images.
Own this work as a print
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…
