A delicate watercolour and charcoal study by Rik Wouters, depicting cattle in a rural Dutch setting near the Schinkel river.

This work by the Belgian artist Rik Wouters captures a rural scene near the Schinkel river. Executed in watercolour and charcoal, the piece demonstrates the artist's characteristic approach to colour and form during his time in the Netherlands. Wouters, known for his expressive handling of light, employs a palette that balances soft, atmospheric washes with bold, dark charcoal outlines that define the cattle in the foreground.

The composition is structured with the animals positioned close to the viewer, creating a sense of immediate presence. Behind them, the horizon line features simplified structures, suggesting a farmstead or village edge. The application of paint is loose and spontaneous, allowing the white of the paper to contribute to the overall luminosity of the scene. The blue of the sky is applied with a light touch, contrasting with the deeper, earthy tones used for the cattle and the ground.

Wouters spent a period of exile in the Netherlands during the First World War, a time that produced a significant body of work focused on the Dutch countryside. This particular study reflects his interest in the interplay between light and the natural environment. The charcoal lines provide a structural framework, while the watercolour washes add depth and mood without obscuring the initial sketch. The result is a work that feels immediate and observational, capturing a quiet moment in the Dutch polder. It remains a representative example of his ability to synthesise observation with a personal, expressive style, avoiding rigid detail in favour of capturing the essence of the atmosphere and the subject matter.