Circle of Paulus Potter, The Delight of the Pigs, 17th Century Dutch Golden Age

Circle of Paulus Potter (1625–1654), The Delight of the Pigs, Oil on Canvas
This engaging 17th-century oil on canvas, attributed to the circle of Paulus Potter (1625–1654), depicts a rustic barnyard scene with pigs and piglets gathered around a wooden trough at dusk. Their pale coats are set in striking contrast against the shadowed hillside and the richly toned evening sky. The artist renders the animals with a sensitive naturalism, capturing their movements and expressions with warmth and vitality, while situating them within a pastoral Dutch landscape that enhances the bucolic atmosphere.
Paulus Potter, celebrated as one of the foremost painters of the Dutch Golden Age, was renowned for elevating animals from background motifs to central subjects of fine art. His works combined acute observation with poetic sensitivity, influencing generations of Northern European painters. This painting reflects the qualities for which Potter and his circle are admired: attention to light, texture, and the inherent dignity of rural life.
Dimensions: Depth 1" × Width 25.5" × Height 21"