Cowherd, at Water's Edge

Cowherd, at Water’s Edge is a fine art print created by Camille Pissarro in 1890. This impression is executed in etching and drypoint on laid paper and represents the definitive eighth state of eight, reflecting the artist’s characteristic dedication to refinement in his printmaking process. Pissarro continually reworked his plates, testing various inks and techniques until he achieved the precise tonal balance he desired. The use of drypoint, created by scratching directly into the metal plate, lends a rich, slightly blurred texture, particularly visible in the rendering of the landscape and water.

The subject matter aligns with Pissarro’s persistent focus on rural labor and the quotidian life of the French peasantry during the late nineteenth century. The composition centers on a solitary woman, the cowherd, supervising a small group of Cows grazing near the water's edge. The focus on Women engaged in agricultural tasks elevates these rural figures, presenting a scene of tranquility and enduring labor.

Although widely known for his Impressionist paintings, Pissarro was equally committed to graphic media. He used etching and drypoint to explore tone and line, producing complex and evocative prints that complement his painted compositions. This work utilizes delicate hatching to define the foreground while the drypoint adds atmospheric depth to the background foliage. As a key example of Pissarro’s graphic output, this piece is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and historical importance, this masterwork of late Impressionist printmaking is now part of the public domain.