Landscape with Herdsmen and Cattle near a Tomb 1660 - 1690

Dirck van Bergen painted this scene of herdsmen and cattle near a tomb sometime in the second half of the 17th century, using oil on canvas. The smooth surface belies the process of layering and blending that van Bergen would have employed. Think about the source of his pigments: minerals ground to a fine powder, mixed with linseed oil, each brushstroke a deliberate act. The canvas itself, stretched tight, provides a receptive ground for the illusion he creates. Van Bergen was part of a long tradition of landscape painting, but he also brings to it a distinct awareness of classical motifs. Note the tomb, adorned with what looks like a classical relief. The figures are frozen in stone, a stark contrast to the earthy, visceral reality of the herdsmen and their animals. This wasn't just about pretty scenery; it was about placing everyday life against the backdrop of history and mortality, a rumination on the passage of time itself.