Herd on the river 1870 27h38, 6 Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898)

The drawing presents a pastoral scene centered around a body of water and a herd of animals. A dense thicket of trees dominates the upper portion of the composition, their foliage rendered with meticulous detail using cross-hatching techniques that create a sense of depth and texture. Below this arboreal mass, a gently sloping bank leads down to the waters edge.
A group of cattle is positioned in the middle ground, partially submerged within the river. Their forms are softly defined, blending somewhat with the surrounding environment, suggesting a quiet integration into the landscape. The water itself occupies a significant portion of the lower half of the drawing and reflects the sky above, creating a subtle tonal variation that enhances the sense of atmospheric perspective. Reeds and other aquatic vegetation grow along the riverbank, adding further detail to the foreground.
The artist’s use of monochrome lends a contemplative quality to the work. The absence of color directs attention towards the interplay of light and shadow, emphasizing the textures of the foliage and the subtle gradations in the waters surface. There is an overall feeling of stillness and tranquility; the scene appears untouched by human intervention.
Subtly, the drawing evokes themes of rural life and a connection to nature. The herd’s presence suggests sustenance and livelihood, while the expansive landscape implies abundance and harmony. The composition might be interpreted as a meditation on the cyclical rhythms of agricultural existence and the enduring beauty of the natural world. The deliberate lack of human figures contributes to this sense of isolation and invites quiet contemplation of the scenes inherent qualities.