A Cow in a Shed, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1640

A Cow in a Shed, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1640

pen and brown ink, with brown wash and opaque white, on paper toned with a light brown wash; framing line in brown ink, h 153mm × w 182mm Catalogue entry

This cow eating hay is effectively framed by the wall and roof of the shed and the wheelbarrow in the foreground. A 1656 inventory of Rembrandt’s possessions specifically mentions that he drew animals from life. Is this also the case for this stylized composition? The presence of the peasant at left, who looks straight out at the draughtsman, in fact suggests this.

Catalogue entry