Rinderherde an einem Flußufer 

Jacob van Strij made this monochromatic drawing of cattle by a riverbank with pen, brush, and brown ink, over graphite. Look closely, and you'll notice how the artist used the qualities of his medium to render different textures: the smooth skin of the cattle, the rough bark of the trees, and the rippling water of the river. Pen and ink are portable, cheap, and widely available, perfectly suited for the quick sketches, that served as studies for larger paintings. The layered strokes of the brush create depth and volume, while the pen defines the contours of the shapes. The choice of brown ink gives the drawing a warm, earthy tone, evoking a sense of pastoral tranquility. Van Strij was part of a tradition that elevated landscape and genre scenes. Note the absence of the typical grand narratives of history painting: instead, the focus here is on ordinary life, and the beauty of the natural world. This drawing reminds us that even the simplest of materials, when combined with skill and vision, can be transformed into works of art.