Artwork
Twilight
Twilight is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Anton Mauve. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
4 cm in width and was created using oil paint applied to a stretched canvas support, information recorded in the artwork's catalog.
Twilight (1873) is an oil painting on canvas by Anton Mauve. The work measures 65.7 cm in height and 45.4 cm in width and was created using oil paint applied to a stretched canvas support, information recorded in the artwork's catalog. It is classified as a painting, reflecting its status as a finished oil composition.
The piece belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was acquired through the bequest of Benjamin Altman.
History & Provenance
Anton Mauve painted Twilight in 1873, an oil on canvas depicting a shepherd and sheep beneath trees. The painting entered the collection of New York businessman and art collector Benjamin Altman, and following his bequest it was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains in the permanent collection. The work measures 65.7 by 45.4 centimetres. No specific exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Anton Mauve, a Dutch realist associated with the Hague School, completed Twilight in 1873. This oil painting presents a tranquil rural scene, characteristic of Mauve's work, featuring a shepherd guiding a flock of sheep. The artist frequently depicted agricultural laborers and livestock, capturing the quiet rhythms of country life with a focus on natural light and atmosphere. The work is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting centers on a lone shepherd, clad in dark clothing, as he moves through a field surrounded by his flock. The landscape unfolds in muted greens and browns, with distant trees framing the composition. This depiction of a humble worker tending to his animals under the fading light evokes a profound sense of peace and the enduring connection between humans and the natural world.
Context
As a prominent member of the Hague School, Anton Mauve was instrumental in developing a distinctly Dutch form of realism. His artistic practice consistently focused on the lives of rural workers and the pastoral landscape, particularly scenes involving sheep and their herders. This thematic focus, combined with his evocative style, resonated strongly with audiences, making his works especially sought after by American collectors during his lifetime.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Anthonij "Anton" Rudolf Mauve (Dutch pronunciation:; 18 September 1838 – 5 February 1888) was a Dutch realist painter who was a leading member of the Hague School.
