Bei einem Zaun Vieh auf der Weide, rechts zwei Schweine 

Pieter Gerardus van Os created this pastoral scene with watercolor, depicting animals in a serene meadow. The animals aren't merely livestock; they are potent symbols, laden with cultural significance. Consider the bull, standing with a direct gaze. Its imposing figure echoes the ancient symbol of power and fertility found in cultures stretching from Crete to India. The pigs, often associated with baser instincts, here seem almost contemplative. Recall how the pig was sacrificed in ancient rituals, bridging the mortal and spiritual realms. These animals are echoes of primal instincts. Notice the tree to the left, a classic symbol of the 'axis mundi', how it has one dead branch and one alive. This image pulls at our subconscious, evoking a deep sense of connection to nature and the cycles of life and death. It reminds us that even in the most bucolic scenes, the primal forces of nature are always present, a powerful reminder of our place within the larger world.