Paard 

Anton Mauve painted "Paard" with oil on panel. Mauve was a leading artist in the Hague School, and this work reflects the group's interest in depicting everyday scenes with naturalism. Here, he's taken a simple motif: a horse standing in a field. The artist has chosen a high vantage point. The painting’s muted palette and loose brushwork create a sense of atmosphere. The strokes of paint are quite visible, especially in the horse's coat, and the overall effect is one of informality. Mauve's attention to the effects of light and weather reveals his interest in the specific qualities of the Dutch landscape. He was clearly less interested in heroic narrative, and more interested in the dignity of the rural scene. The horse itself is a labor animal, rendered with sensitivity. By focusing on this humble subject, Mauve elevates the everyday and reminds us of the value of the natural world.