Expulsion from the vegetable field; Vertreibung vom Gemüseacker Anton Braith (1836-1905)

The composition presents a pastoral scene centered around two calves grazing in what appears to be a cultivated field. The foreground is dominated by earthy tones – browns and ochres – indicative of freshly turned soil, suggesting recent agricultural activity. Lush green vegetation, including broad leaves and prickly plants, intermingles with the ground cover, creating a sense of abundance and natural growth.
The calves themselves are rendered in varying shades of brown and black, their forms realistically depicted with attention to detail in their fur and musculature. One calf is positioned slightly ahead of the other, its head lowered as it feeds, while the second stands more upright, seemingly observing its surroundings. A small dog, also brown, is visible near a fence line on the right side of the painting, adding another layer of domesticity to the scene.
The background features a hazy, indistinct landscape with what appears to be a weathered wooden structure – possibly a barn or shed – partially obscured by distance and atmospheric perspective. The sky is overcast, contributing to a muted light that softens the overall mood. A sense of quietude pervades the work; theres an absence of human presence, allowing the viewer to focus on the natural world and its inhabitants.
Beyond the straightforward depiction of rural life, subtexts emerge concerning themes of sustenance and displacement. The title alludes to a loss or removal from a familiar space – here, it could be interpreted as the calves’ freedom within the vegetable field being curtailed, perhaps by the presence of the fence line. This introduces an element of melancholy or constraint into what might otherwise be perceived as a purely idyllic scene. The careful rendering of the vegetation and animals suggests a reverence for natures bounty, while the overcast sky hints at underlying anxieties or uncertainties about the future. The work evokes a sense of fleeting beauty and the cyclical nature of agricultural life – growth, harvest, and eventual displacement.