Zeichnung zur Fibel_ Schwein c. 1905

Hans Thoma made this drawing of a pig and her piglets without a set date using pen and India ink over graphite on paper. Thoma's work is often associated with a return to traditional German values, reflecting the late 19th-century desire for cultural identity. The drawing seems simple, yet it invites reflection on our relationship with nature and the rural world. Thoma lived through a time of rapid industrialization, so we can see his choice to depict farm animals as a longing for an older, simpler way of life, one deeply connected to the land. It avoids idealizing country life, presenting it without romanticism or criticism. In this way, Thoma captures something truthful about rural existence. Ultimately, Thoma’s image of a mother pig and her young asks us to consider what we value in a changing world, encouraging a moment of quiet contemplation.