Landschap met drinkende koe

Landschap met drinkende koe is a highly characteristic drawing created by the master draftsman Rembrandt van Rijn between 1648 and 1652. Executed on paper, the work exemplifies Rijn’s later period, characterized by an increasing focus on the quiet observation of the Dutch natural world and the swift economy of line.

This work captures a serene pastoral moment, depicting a cow bending low to drink from a river or pond, set against a loosely rendered background of fields and distant foliage. Although the medium is classified generally as paper, the technique reflects the rapid spontaneity of a pen and ink sketch, suggesting atmosphere and volume through minimal but powerful strokes. Drawings of this nature were instrumental to Rijn’s working process, often serving as preparatory studies for larger oil paintings or as independent works prized for their immediacy and artistic insight.

The period of creation places this piece firmly within the final years of the Dutch Golden Age, when Rijn faced financial difficulties but reached his absolute artistic zenith in handling light and psychological depth. This particular piece, though simple in subject, demonstrates the artist’s ability to imbue even a common animal subject with weight and presence.

Classified within the collection of the Rijksmuseum, the inclusion of the "Book" classification indicates that this drawing may have originally been bound or grouped within an album or volume of collected works. As a significant example of Rijn’s draughtsmanship, this piece is frequently studied by scholars. Today, high-quality images of this work are often available through public domain collections, ensuring that Rijn's remarkable contribution to landscape art through his drawings and prints continues to be widely accessible and appreciated.