Ossen en een paard bij de hoefsmid 1813

Johann Adam Klein rendered this drawing, "Oxen and a Horse at the Farrier's," with chalk and pencil. It depicts a pastoral scene where animals are being tended to, a seemingly simple subject, yet steeped in symbolic weight. The oxen, symbols of strength, servitude, and sacrifice, stand patiently. Across cultures, the ox appears. From the ancient Minoan bull-leaping rituals to the sacrificial oxen of Roman antiquity, their strength is forever entwined with ritual. Even now, the ox evokes the primal connection between humans and the natural world, and our dependence on animals for our survival. Consider how Klein renders the farrier’s tools, mere background objects, yet potent symbols of human mastery over nature. This act of shoeing, of controlling the animal’s gait, echoes through time. The emotional depth of this drawing lies in its portrayal of the animals’ stoic acceptance—a poignant reminder of the sacrifices inherent in our shared existence. This drawing is a continuation of a narrative that stretches back millennia, constantly resurfacing and evolving.