Cows on a Riverbank

Willem Maris specialized in scenes such as this one, where the reflections of sky and water dominate the peaceful scene of animals grazing on the bank. Perhaps influenced by the Barbizon canvases he must have seen during an 1867 trip to Paris, he preferred a grayish palette for much of his career. Though nearly every painting by Maris includes animals, he said "I do not paint cows, but light."

Trained by his brothers Jacob and Matthijs, Willem Maris was one of the most independent members of the Hague School. A native and lifelong resident of the town, Willem cultivated friendships with his fellow artists, including the animal painter Pieter Stortenbeker and Van Gogh's teacher Anton Mauve. He traveled along the Rhine in 1865 with Bernard Blommers and soon shared a studio with him, painting river landscapes while Blommers focused on interiors.