Artwork
Wooded Landscape with Herdsman and Cows
Wooded Landscape with Herdsman and Cows is a print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Gainsborough. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1993.252
- Credit line
- John L. Severance Fund
About this work
Overview
Wooded Landscape with Herdsman and Cows is a print created by Thomas Gainsborough around 1782. It exemplifies his work in landscape painting, a genre in which he found significant personal satisfaction.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene rural scene with cows grazing beneath twisted trees and a herdsman watching over them in the distance. The composition conveys a sense of peacefulness and subtle mystery.
Technique & Style
Gainsborough employed soft lines to capture the interplay of light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The use of dark, spreading tree branches adds a sense of enclosure to the scene.
Context
This work contributes to the development of the British landscape tradition in the late 18th century, a period during which Gainsborough was recognized as one of Britain's most significant artists, alongside Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Gainsborough (; 14 May 1727 (baptised) – 2 August 1788) was an English painter, draughtsman and printmaker who specialised in portrait and landscape painting.
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