Cows in a Pond at Sunset
1860
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1860
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see three brown cows standing in a shallow pond at dusk, their shapes dark against the glowing water. Gifford painted this quickly, outdoors, to catch the fleeting light. He used thin, fast brushstrokes and a warm, earthy palette—just a few colors mixed to show the sunset’s glow. The tiny house in the distance feels far away, almost part of the landscape. If you like how light works here, look up *glazing*.
