Landscape with a Cow Drinking

"Landscape with a Cow Drinking," created by Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) between 1645 and 1655, is an exceptional example of the artist's mature explorations in printmaking. This particular impression is rendered in etching and drypoint, techniques that allowed the Dutch master to capture the fleeting atmosphere and complex textures of the rural environment. The use of drypoint, characterized by its burred, soft lines, is especially noticeable in the dark foreground elements, contrasting sharply with the finer etched lines used to depict the middle ground.

The composition focuses on a quiet, low-horizoned landscape, a common subject in Rembrandt's graphic work during this period. The central action involves a cow lowering its head to drink from a body of water, establishing an intimate connection between animal life and the natural setting. Clustered to the right, small houses define a distant hamlet, subtly grounding the scene in the reality of 17th-century Dutch life.

This impression possesses significant historical interest as the third of five known states, demonstrating the ongoing evolution of the plate. Moreover, it includes later rework by the 18th-century French connoisseur Claude-Henri Watelet, whose modifications added definition to certain areas. Such alterations are a fascinating facet of the history of fine art prints, revealing how subsequent collectors valued and adapted original masterworks. This important piece resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a primary document for studying Rembrandt’s innovative approach to landscape. High-resolution documentation of the various states of Landscape with a Cow Drinking is frequently made available through public domain initiatives.