The Milking Pen 1854 - 1910

Willem Maris made "The Milking Pen" with watercolor on paper. Born in The Hague, Netherlands, Maris was part of the Hague School, which captured the rural life of the Dutch landscape. In this period, the Netherlands was undergoing significant social and economic change, as industrialization slowly encroached upon traditional agricultural ways of life. Maris’s painting can be seen as both a celebration and a subtle critique of these changes, highlighting the intimate relationship between humans, animals, and the land. Look closely at the figure. The person is crouched low, engaged in the labor of milking, showing a direct connection to the natural world. How does the artist create a sense of harmony between the human figure and the cows? What does this relationship suggest about labor, identity, and belonging? "The Milking Pen" asks us to consider the simple, everyday moments of rural life. It reflects the artist's personal connection to the landscape.