Anton Mauve

Dutch (1838-1888)

Well-known as a landscape artist, Mauveís depictions of Europe in the 19th century echo the sentiments of Jean Francois Millet (French, 1814-1875), who was among the first to bring a dignity to rural life and the peasants working and living within the landscape. Throughout his career, Mauve portrayed peasants in the field, cows and sheep in their pastures as well as the surrounding landscape, depicting the scenes in a soft, natural light. Mauve was a prominent member of the Hague school of artists, who did much of their art outside, viewing the scenes before them, in an effort to capture the natural atmospheric qualities and light that imparted feeling to their works. In 1881, Mauve gave several lessons in painting and drawing to Van Gogh, his cousin. When Van Gogh learned of Mauveís death in 1888, he entitled one of his paintings ìSouvenir de Mauve,î in remembrance of him.
Mauveís works can be seen in museums throughout Europe, including in Amsterdam, Munich and at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh.