Plate 6, from "Cahier de Six Feuilles de Boeufs et Vaches"

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

In this print, three sturdy cattle stand or recline on a rocky outcrop beneath a lightly hatched sky. The leftmost animal faces left in profile, while the central figure turns its back toward the viewer and the rightmost rests on the ground. Fine engraved lines define their curved horns, shaggy coats with dark patches, and the uneven terrain, all rendered in a restrained monochrome palette that emphasizes texture and form over color. Jean-Baptiste Pillement, a French artist celebrated for his ornamental and pastoral designs, created this etching in 1771 as Plate 6 from the series “Cahier de Six Feuilles de Boeufs et Vaches.” The work belongs to the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, a gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt. Pillement’s careful observation of livestock reflects the period’s growing interest in detailed studies of nature, intended both for artists and for those who appreciated scenes of rural life.