Roger De La Fresnaye (1885-1925)

Perhaps best known for his cubist work, Roger de la Fresnaye's 'Vaches dans un pré' is of an earlier period when the artist was looking more towards symbolism and the Nabis. The work is clearly related to a pencil study of a cow pasture executed in the artist's sketchbook from his trip to Brittany in June of 1909. The flattened perspective, much exaggerated in the final piece compared to the preparatory sketch which includes a band of sky, creates a decorative aesthetic and demonstrates the influence of Gaugin's work and that of Maurice Denis, who had a great impact on de la Fresnaye.