The oil paintings of the contemporary Dutch artist Paul Jansen invites the viewer to look beyond the standard picture within the frame. It feels as if the curious animal really reaches out of the frame, as if the viewer stands face-to-face with the cow. It gives the paintings extra liveliness — the calf really looks at you, as if he wants to make contact and step out of his frame. The beautiful eyes and the soft whiskers make the cow extra touchable.
Jansen started his artistic career as a photographer. The influence of photography is surely traceable in his realistic portraits with unique compositions and extreme framing. For what has already been a number of years, the cow is an important subject in the work of Jansen. The animal’s unpretentious sense of being and its quirky, sometimes absurd shapes fascinate the artist. Unlike the function of cattle animals in past decennia painting, Jansen does not frame the cow as embellishment of landscape. He frames a single animal in all of its uniqueness and detail, often even with no room for landscape.
The backgrounds of the portraits radiate serenity and peace in their almost abstract flatness. The background contrasts with the liveliness of the animal, painted in great detail. Jansen creates an intriguing play of color and form and of abstractness and realism, to let the nature of the cow be fully appreciated.
Find original Paul Jansen animal paintings and other art on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by De KunstSalon)
Curious Calf- 21st Century Contemporary Animal Portrait by Paul Jansen
By Paul Jansen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Paul Jansen Curious Calf 51 x 61 cm (Framed 67x 78 cm, Frame is included in price) Oil on wood panel Painter Paul Jansen (1960) started his artistic career as a photographer, and a ...
Oil, Wood Panel
Bulldog with a Food Bowl-oil on board, early 20th century, French.
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Bulldog with a Food Bowl French, early 20th century Oil on board Illegibly signed, lower left 9 1/2 x 12 1/2 (15 x 18 frame) inches A tender and thoughtful portrayal of a seated bul...
Oil, Panel
$5,700
H 16.5 in W 14.5 in
Dog Portrait of a Grand Vendéen Hunting Dog Jules Chardigny (1849-1892) ca 1870s
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Dog Portrait of a Grand Vendéen Hunting Dog Jules Chardigny (1849-1892) Signed lower right Circa 1870 Oil on wood panel Housed within its beautiful and original ornate original gil...
Oil, Wood Panel
$975
H 14.4 in W 11.3 in D 1 in
Mid 19th Century After Greuze Portrait of Milkmaid Oil Painting on Panel Framed
By (Circle of) Jean Baptiste Greuze
Located in Stockholm, SE
A finely executed mid-19th-century oil painting on panel depicting "The Milkmaid" after Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725–1805). This captivating portrait, painted in a charming manner with...
Wood, Oil, Wood Panel
Dog Portrait of a Terrier on a Red Ground, circa 1910
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Red Terrier Possibly Dutch School Oil on wood panel, circa 1900-1910. Initialed lower left 7 1/2 x 7 (12 x 11 1/2 frame) inches A charming and thoughtfully rendered depiction of a t...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Round Portrait of a Brown and Black Terrier" French 19th Century
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Round Portrait of a Brown and Black Terrier," French, 19th Century, circa 1850s Oil on wood panel Unsigned. 9 x 9 inches frame One of a pair of charming portraits of Black White Te...
Oil, Wood Panel
$5,450
H 13.75 in W 11.5 in
Portrait of a Griffon Vendéen Hunting Dog by Jules Chardigny (1842-1892)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Dog Portrait of a Grand Vendéen Hunting Dog Jules Chardigny (1842-1892) Circa 1870 Oil on panel Signed upper left 8 x 5 1/2 (13 3/4 x 11 1/2 frame) inches Jules Chardigny was born...
Oil, Panel
$440
H 25.9 in W 22 in
Little Girls and Their New Friends Genre Scene 19th century Oil Painting on Wood
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very touching scene with two little girls. Two sisters are thrilled to meet their new pets that their parents have bought. The sincerity and immediacy of children's feelings depicted...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Round Portrait of a Black and White Terrier" French 19th Century
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Round Portrait of a Black and White Terrier," French, 19th Century, circa 1850s Oil on wood panel Unsigned. 9 x 9 inches frame One of a pair of charming portraits of Black White Te...
Oil, Wood Panel
Animal Studies, 1814 Charles Towne (British, 1763-1840)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Animal Studies, 1814" Charles Towne (British, 1763-1840) Oil on panel Signed and dated Chas. Towne/ Pinxit 1814 (lower right) 15 x 11 3/8 (21 x 17 ¼ frame) inches Provenance: Collec...
Oil, Wood Panel
$5,350
H 12 in W 10.5 in
Study of a Manchester Terrier or a Dwarf Pinscher- Jules Chardigny (1842-1892)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Study of a Manchester Terrier or a Dwarf Pinscher Jules Chardigny (1842-1892) Circa 1860s Oil on panel Signed upper left 6 x 4 1/2 (12 x 10 1/2 frame) inches The similarities betwe...
Panel, Oil
$14,359
H 18.12 in W 21.26 in D 3.94 in
'The Little Writer – L’écrivain' 1913 by Charles Van Den Eycken (1859 – 1923)
By Charles Van Den Eycken
Located in Knokke, BE
Charles Van Den Eycken 1859 – Brussels – 1923 Belgian Painter 'The Little Writer – L’écrivain' 1913 Signature: signed lower left and dated 'Ch. Van den Eycken 1913.' Medium: oil on...
Oil, Panel
$11,726
H 27.56 in W 24.02 in D 3.15 in
French oil painting on panel “Dog lying in front of fireplace” 19th century
Located in Gavere, BE
French oil painting on panel “Dog lying in front of fireplace” 19th century Thematically, the work aligns with 19th-century realism, which focuses on everyday, non-heroic subjects. ...
Gold Leaf
Sold
H 14.18 in W 9.45 in D 1.58 in
Sparrow - 21st Century Dutch Contemporary Bird Painting of a Sparrow
By Paul Jansen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
A painting by Paul Jansen Coal Tit 36 x 24 cm with frame (included) 43 x 31 cm Oil on wood panel The Dutch artist Paul Jansen prefers to paint animal portrai...
Oil, Wood Panel
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H 14.18 in W 9.45 in D 1.58 in
Coal Tit - 21st Century Dutch Contemporary Bird Painting of a Tit
By Paul Jansen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
A painting by Paul Jansen Coal Tit 36 x 24 cm with frame (included) 43 x 31 cm Oil on wood panel The Dutch artist Paul Jansen prefers to paint animal portrai...
Oil, Wood Panel
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H 16.54 in W 24.02 in D 1.58 in
Curious Calf- 21st Century Dutch Contemporary Portrait Painting of a Calf
By Paul Jansen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
A painting by Paul Jansen Curious Calf 42 x 61 cm with frame (included) 56 x 77 cm Oil on wood panel The Dutch artist Paul Jansen prefers to paint cow portraits. Jansen looks for co...
Oil, Wood Panel
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H 18.12 in W 24.02 in D 1.58 in
Portrait of a Cow- 21st Century Dutch Contemporary Portrait Painting of a Cow
By Paul Jansen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
A painting by Paul Jansen portrait of a cow 46 x 61 cm with frame (included) 56 x 70 cm Oil on wood panel The Dutch artist Paul Jansen prefers to paint cow portraits. Jansen looks f...
Oil, Wood Panel
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H 19.3 in W 29.14 in D 1.58 in
Portrait of a Cow- 21st Century Dutch Contemporary Portrait Painting of a Cow
By Paul Jansen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
A painting by Paul Jansen The Dutch artist Paul Jansen prefers to paint cow portraits. Jansen looks for cows, examines all types in all possible places. For him, a cow is an interest...
Oil, Wood Panel
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H 18.51 in W 24.02 in D 1.58 in
Portrait of a Cow- 21st Century Contemporary Portrait painting of a Cow
By Paul Jansen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
A painting by Paul Jansen The Dutch artist Paul Jansen prefers to paint cow portraits. Jansen looks for cows, examines all types in all possible places. For him, a cow is an interest...
Oil, Wood Panel
Sold
H 21.26 in W 32.29 in D 1.58 in
Hi There! -21st Century Contemporary portrait Oil Painting of a Cow
By Paul Jansen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
A painting by Paul Jansen The Dutch artist Paul Jansen prefers to paint cow portraits. Jansen looks for cows, examines all types in all possible places. For him, a cow is an interes...
Oil, Wood Panel