Sleeping cow 

Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt rendered this study of a Sleeping Cow in an unknown year with red chalk on paper. The earth-toned material allowed Hirt to capture the animal's texture, weight, and form. It would be interesting to learn what Hirt and his contemporaries thought of these creatures, which were absolutely central to agriculture, the very basis of society and economy. Cows provided not only milk and meat, but also leather, tallow for candles, and labor in the fields. Yet, their social role and status were often overlooked. The sketch is loose and gestural; you can almost sense the artist's hand moving across the paper, quickly capturing the essence of the cow's relaxed posture. Hirt employed hatching and cross-hatching techniques to build up shadows and define the animal's contours. Consider how the drawing's materiality and the artist's process contribute to our understanding of the artwork. It challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, emphasizing the importance of materials and making in conveying meaning.