Cows in a River, at Sunset

Cows in a River at Sunset from 1650 by Cuyp at the Pushkin Museum combines two of his most characteristic subjects—cattle and the warm light of sunset—in a composition of idyllic pastoral beauty. The animals wading in the river provided opportunities for Cuyp's masterful treatment of reflections. Cuyp worked primarily in Dordrecht throughout his career, and his paintings of the Dutch countryside—cattle in golden light, river views, and horsemen against luminous skies—established him as one of the most technically accomplished landscape painters of the Dutch Golden Age.

The sunset light creates golden reflections on the water around the wading cattle, Cuyp's masterful handling of warm atmospheric light creating his signature effect of luminous pastoral tranquillity.