Landscape with a cow drinking

The print Landscape with a cow drinking was executed by the celebrated Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn around 1650. Rijn was a prolific and innovative printmaker who utilized the medium of paper not merely for reproduction but as an artistic end in itself. This particular work, classified as a Print, displays the mastery of technique-likely etching or drypoint-that he perfected during the mid-17th century, creating dramatic contrasts and delicate line work.

The scene portrays a tranquil, rural setting, consistent with the rising interest in Dutch landscape prints during the Golden Age. The composition focuses intimately on the titular cow drinking water, grounding the image in the realities of daily agricultural life. Rijn skillfully captured the vastness of the Dutch countryside, employing subtle shifts in light and shadow to convey atmosphere and depth across the flat plane of the paper. This emphasis on pastoral tranquility reflects the era's deep appreciation for the domestic environment and natural surroundings.

This significant example of 17th-century Dutch printmaking is held within the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Due to the age and historical importance of Rijn's prolific output, many of his original copper plates and corresponding prints from this period are now widely accessible. The availability of these masterworks often places them in the public domain, allowing researchers, students, and enthusiasts globally to study the intricate detail and technical innovation Rijn brought to the art of printmaking.