A Landscape with Horseman, Herders and Cattle
- Artist: Aelbert Cuyp
- Date: probably about 1655-60
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Landscape with Horseman, Herders and Cattle" by Aelbert Cuyp. Painted in the Netherlands in the mid-17th century, it's a quintessential example of the rural tranquility that was all the rage during this period.
Notice how the warm golden light bathes the scene, creating a sense of harmony between man and beast. The cowherd and horseman seem to be chatting easily, despite their likely difference in social status. And look at the animals themselves - they're all drowsy and contented, as if enjoying the peaceful afternoon.
Cuyp's use of light was heavily influenced by his contemporaries who had trained in Italy, but he never visited himself. Instead, he created a unique trademark that brought a sense of southern Europe to the Netherlands. We can see this in the way the landscape is bathed in warm glow, rather than the cooler, more subdued tones of Northern European art.
The cows, in particular, are worth noting - they represent a reliable source of wealth and prosperity for the Dutch people at this time. Cuyp was renowned for his ability to depict them convincingly, often using similar positions and profiles throughout his work.
As we look into the painting, our viewpoint from behind the figures draws us into the scene in two subtle ways. We're invited to follow their gaze out over the landscape, along a diagonal line established by the angle of the standing horse, the clouds, and the birds. And at the same time, we're left wondering what they might be discussing - perhaps something just out of our sight, or maybe simply admiring the view.
See it in person
A Landscape with Horseman, Herders and Cattle hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
