Schaapskudde bij een hek c. 1876 - 1888

Anton Mauve created this drawing, *Schaapskudde bij een hek*, using graphite on paper. At first glance, the artwork presents an almost abstract field of marks, a dense network of dark lines against the stark white of the paper. These marks coalesce to suggest a landscape with a flock of sheep. Mauve's strategic use of line and shading guides our perception. The repetitive, curved strokes imply the soft forms of the sheep, while vertical lines suggest the fence and vegetation. The composition is structured to lead the eye from the foreground, filled with the most detail, into the lighter, more ambiguous background. This piece destabilizes traditional landscape art by prioritizing suggestion over explicit representation. Mauve seems less interested in portraying a literal scene than in capturing a fleeting impression, aligning with the artistic trends that questioned fixed representation in favor of subjective experience. The drawing serves as a study in form and perception.