Boeuf. / Ox. / Ochs. / Bove. / Os 1829 - 1880

This lithograph, titled "Boeuf," was produced by the firma Joseph Scholz. The image presents a robust ox standing before a weathered stone structure. The work creates meaning through its visual encoding of agricultural prosperity, echoing the historical associations of livestock with wealth and stability. Made in a period of rising industrialization, this print could be seen as commenting on the traditional rural life of its time, perhaps self-consciously conservative in its depiction of agrarian stability. The cultural references here intertwine with economic structures, reflecting the agricultural landscape of its era. To understand this artwork better, one might delve into historical archives detailing agricultural practices and economic conditions of the time. Art is contingent on social and institutional context, and exploring these avenues deepens our understanding.