The Milkmaid by Paulus Potter (1646)

A charming painting.

My first time seeing Paulus Potter.

He was a minor artist of the Dutch Golden Age struck down by Tuberculosis at a v. young age. He specialised in animal painting and landscapes with the cattle as the principal subject.

In this painting, two cows and a sheep carefree under a tree on a warm summer’s day. The milkmaid is pushed to the background. It feels like the domestic animals are hanging out and relaxing together.

A smiling cow?  😊

Paulus Potter was discussed on the blog bugwomanlondon in the following terms:

“artists who choose to make animals their subject – partly because of what it says about the attitude to animals at the time, and partly because the best painters seem to be able to incorporate the personality of the animal in such a way that it becomes a portrait.”

How apt.