This painting by Willem Maris captures a tranquil Dutch pastoral scene featuring cows grazing near the edge of a serene waterway, surrounded by lush green grass and under a luminous, cloud-filled sky. Maris, a member of the renowned Hague School, is celebrated for his skillful depiction of light, atmosphere, and the everyday beauty of rural life.

This painting envelops the viewer in a gentle landscape, where the soft shimmer of sunlight filters through the clouds and glistens on the water, creating a peaceful and harmonious ambience. The dense trees on the right, contrasted with the open sky and meadow on the left, frame the pastoral focus: the cows and the small boat drawn up at the water’s edge.

Maris attention to the play of light—one of his artistic hallmarks—is evident in the delicate illumination on the cows’ flanks and the vibrant greens.

Maris’s landscapes are prized for their authenticity and poetic sensibility, exemplifying Hague School traditions that emphasize direct observation and atmospheric effect. His scenes often feature cattle at rest or grazing, highlighting rural tranquility.