Meadow Landscape with Cattle c. 1880

Willem Roelofs painted this "Meadow Landscape with Cattle" using oil on canvas. At first glance, the scene is dominated by soft, muted greens and browns of the pasture, which blend seamlessly into the grey and white hues of the sky. Roelofs masterfully employs a horizontal composition, dividing the canvas into distinct zones. The foreground, rich in detail, leads us to a middle ground where cattle are scattered, their forms softened by distance. The horizon line, barely distinct, meets a sky filled with voluminous clouds, rendered with loose brushstrokes. This arrangement creates a sense of depth, drawing the eye into the vastness of the Dutch landscape. Roelofs' technique reflects an interest in capturing the transient effects of light and atmosphere. The diffuse light filters through the clouds, casting shadows on the meadow and lending the scene a serene quality. This emphasis on atmospheric effects aligns Roelofs with broader artistic concerns of the time. It captures not just a scene, but a moment, an instance of nature's ever-changing beauty.