Dupre was a leading figure in the Barbizon school, which took its name from the village of Barbizon, not far from Paris. A painter, engraver and draughtsman, in his landscapes he was much influenced by Dutch 17th-century artists and the English painter John Constable. He produced his paintings mainly in the area around Compiegne and Montmorency. This work is typical of his output, with his inherent talent for conveying a sense of light and air. On this warm summer day a herd of cows are calmly chewing the cud on the edge of a forest. The sunlight softly gilds the tops of the trees, which stand out against the sky. In the mirror-like surface of the forest pond gathering clouds are reflected. Dupre made use of thick impasto texture and created the impression of fresh, damp air thanks to an amazing richness of nuances of green, from dark, deep green to soft light emerald.