Willem Maris cow near a ditch 1885-1895
The landscapes of Dutch painters in the 19teenth century clearly show the difference with presentday agriculture. At that time the water level in the marshy grasslands (polders) was much higher than today. On many paintings you see the cows half standing in the water. Today's heavy equipment of the farmers requires a much lower water level and once in a ditch it is almost impossible for the cow to to climb out of it by her own. Willem Maris (1844-1910) was a plein air painter and a master in painting cows standing in or near the water. He belonged to the Hague School and was a member of a wellknown Dutch family of painters. Maris used to say that he did not paint cows but light. If you look at his paintings you can see what he means.