The artwork “Cows in the Barn” was created by the artist Gustav Klimt between 1900 and 1901. This piece is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 75 cm by 75 cm, and is categorized within the Symbolism movement as an animal painting.
The artwork illustrates a scene situated inside a barn, where a group of cows is depicted. The focal cow, positioned closer to the viewing plane, is rendered with a visible detailing of its brown and white spots, suggesting a certain depth and texture to its hide. The barn’s interior is portrayed with a dim, subdued lighting, conferring a sense of tranquility and seclusion to the setting. In the background, additional cows appear partially obscured by the shadows, with subtle light filtering through the slats of the barn, highlighting fragments of the animals and their surroundings. The use of light and a rich, earthy palette collectively enfolds the composition in an atmosphere of rustic warmth. Klimt’s employment of a loose and expressive brushwork technique imbues the scene with a painterly effect that resonates with the Symbolist movement’s characteristic emphasis on emotion and metaphorical content.
