DISCOVERART

Paulus Potter

The Bull

1650
Etching on cream laid paper
10.8 × 14.7 cm (4.3 × 5.8 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Paulus Potter was the preeminent animal artist of the Dutch Republic. His paintings and prints of monumentalized bulls for sophisticated court patrons in particular epitomize the beasts of the Dutch farmland. His slightly caricatured style betrayed a wry and occasionally earthy wit, which he sometimes used for political allegory. By his early death at age 29 he had created his own market niche of animal portraiture, leading the way for 18th-century artists such as George Stubbs, who would paint literal portraits of prized livestock for their proud owners.

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More by Paulus Potter

Orpheus and the AnimalsOrpheus and the AnimalsCows in a Meadow near a FarmCows in a Meadow near a FarmTwee paarden in de wei bij een hekTwee paarden in de wei bij een hekThe BullThe BullA herdsman's hutA herdsman's hutBear HuntBear HuntTwo Cows and a Young Bull beside a Fence in a MeadowTwo Cows and a Young Bull beside a Fence in a MeadowFour Young Bulls in a MeadowFour Young Bulls in a Meadow

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