Nils Andersson (Kättilstads parish, Östergötland 1817-1865 Vaxholm) went to Düsseldorf in 1851, the same year the painting was carried out. The first among Swedish artists to travel to Düsseldorf was Carl d'Unker (Stockholm 1828-1866 Düsseldorf), who traveled there in 1850. Andersson thus belonged to the pioneers among Swedish artists who traveled to Düsseldorf.

Andersson has in the picture incorporated a male figure wearing an antique soldier uniform reminiscent of the uniforms Dutch soldiers wore in the 17th century. The motif is probably intended to depict a future history painter on his way to Düsseldorf wearing accessories necessary for his future circle of motifs. Possibly it should be interpreted as an outcome of irony on Andersson's part and a reflection of the enthusiasm he himself felt before the trip to Düsseldorf.

Unlike most other Swedish artists who went to Düsseldorf, Andersson stayed there only for a short time and he returned to Sweden as early as 1851. A significant feature of the Düsseldorf school was the interest in historical motifs. The history painting probably did not suit Andersson's taste. After his return he came to specialize in landscape motifs with farmers and cattle, which he performed in innumerable versions; Grazing and drinking cattle, Oxdrift, The cows are herded home, "Market trip etc.

As early as 1851, Andersson had come to choose this motif, because the same year the Art Association in Stockholm bought a landscape with cattle for 200 rdr and two other landscapes from him for 333 rdr 16 sk. (G. Nordensvan, Swedish General Art Association 1832-1932, 1932, p. 69).

Nordensvan (idem) writes: "he [Nils Andersson] has now #1851 found his best area, Swedish everyday nature, the country road with its spot of farmers, carts and loads, cows and horses" The yellow part in the sky around the place sign is probably added by the artist himself at a later date, perhaps with the intention of emphasizing the place name "Düsseldorff".