Landscape with a cow drinking

The work titled Landscape with a cow drinking is attributed to the celebrated Dutch master, Rembrandt van Rijn. Although the original design belongs to the 17th-century Golden Age, this specific piece is an impression classified as a Print on paper, executed much later, between 1850 and 1906. This print exemplifies the pastoral focus common in Dutch realism, depicting a single cow bending low to drink from a body of water, likely a stream or pond, nestled within a sparse, atmospheric landscape.

Rijn was a prolific and innovative printmaker, known for his masterful use of etching and drypoint to achieve varied texture and deep tonal contrasts, lending monumental weight to even simple, everyday subjects. While the execution of this particular print postdates the artist’s lifetime, it faithfully maintains the composition and characteristic sense of tranquil observation associated with his original landscape studies.

The later date of this impression places it during a time of renewed interest in the technical mastery of the Old Masters, when new editions, copies, and posthumous prints of seminal works were frequently produced to meet collector demand. The enduring appeal of Rijn’s draftsmanship ensured that these pastoral scenes remained popular throughout the 19th century. This impression is preserved within the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum, serving as evidence of the continuous influence of the artist’s foundational designs. Today, as many important historical works enter the public domain, images of Rijn’s original compositions, available through museum collections, are widely accessible for study and art appreciation.