Resting Cows
1652
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1652
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Resting Cows is a 1652 ink by Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem, a Baroque work, depicting cattle, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows three cows lying in a field beside a tree. One cow faces us while the other two rest with their backs turned. Berchem was known for drawing animals and landscapes. He worked in the 1600s, when artists often sold prints like this to regular people. See how the shadows fall under the cows? That soft shading is called drypoint. Try printing a quick sketch with a pencil to feel the same scratchy lines.
