Twee koeien 1635 - 1645

Claude Lorrain created "Two Cows" using pen and brown ink, with a grey wash, likely in the mid-17th century. The composition divides simply. A blank sky above contrasts with the earth, from which the two cows emerge. The layering of strokes renders the body mass of each cow, their forms substantial. Note how Lorrain uses line to create shadow and volume, defining the musculature and bone structure, particularly of the larger cow. The cows, depicted with a simple, pastoral elegance, are an exercise in form. Lorrain masterfully balances light and shadow to give shape to the animals, almost as blocks of volume. The cows are not simply representations of animals, but studies in mass, form, and line. The drawing uses a reduced palette of browns and greys. Lorrain directs our eye to the interplay between light and shadow, and how simple lines can convey substance and depth. In essence, this study is a testament to the power of form and composition.