1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Two Oxen Fighting is a 1650 ink by Paulus Potter, a Baroque work, depicting Cattle, held at National Gallery of Art.
Paulus Potter’s etching shows two oxen locked in a fierce head-butting fight. Their muscles strain under dusty hides. The ground is torn up where hooves dig in. This isn’t just animal drama. Potter used drypoint, scratching lines into metal to hold ink. The rough edges make shadows look deeper and fur look thick. Try the same trick on cardboard with a nail—then check the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Paulus Potter (Dutch pronunciation: ; 20 November 1625 (baptised) – 17 January 1654 (buried)) was a Dutch painter who specialized in landscapes featuring animals, often from a low vantage point.
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