Bretons landschap met koeien in de nevel 1902 - 1951

Henri Rivière made this ‘Bretons landschap met koeien in de nevel’ without a known date, using an unknown medium – but hey, that’s ok! What grabs me is how Rivière's approach to mark-making feels so intuitive. It’s like he’s having a conversation with the landscape, responding to the moment as it unfolds. Looking closely, you can almost feel the dampness of the fog. Rivière’s thin, transparent washes of colour create this hazy atmosphere. The way he’s built up these layers makes it seem like the landscape is emerging from the mist right before our eyes, like a memory or a dream. The cows are just these simple shapes, placed perfectly to give a sense of scale and depth to the scene. It's like Rivière is reminding us that art isn’t about capturing reality, but about creating a space for feeling and imagination. Thinking about other artists, I’m reminded of Whistler's atmospheric landscapes. Like Whistler, Rivière invites us to lose ourselves in the subtle nuances of light and colour.