Kühe und Ziegen, zwei miteinander kämpfende Ziegenböcke 

Curator: This drawing, held here at the Städel Museum, is attributed to Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt. The work in graphite presents a bucolic scene centered on battling goats. Editor: There’s something wonderfully understated about the medium, isn’t there? A humble graphite sketch rendering a primal drama. It's all subdued fury, a far cry from heroic oil paintings, closer to a casual observation from life. Curator: Precisely! The image showcases Hirt’s interest in observing animal behavior, mirroring the longstanding symbolic weight placed on animals as embodiments of specific traits, vices, or virtues. Note the contrast between the fighting goats and the tranquil cow in the background. The cow might symbolize domesticity, a counterpoint to the goats' aggression. Editor: Or perhaps the artist is commenting on different types of labor in this pastoral setting, the hardscrabble fight for survival embodied by the goats and the slower, more predictable labor of the bovine, connected to dairy production? It’s interesting to think about how land and labor were viewed at that time. I wonder, who was this work intended for, what sort of consumption? Curator: Perhaps a noble audience, interested in nature and idealized rural scenes. But look closer. The grappling of the goats, the tension rendered simply through line and shadow. It speaks to raw instinct, something untamed that exists outside societal structure. This kind of artwork taps into archetypal imagery, these horned creatures as stand-ins for the darker side of human nature, the aggressive tendencies. Editor: It reminds us of our animal selves, yes, yet the use of graphite brings in another layer of meaning. This accessibility highlights how artistic skills might have been developed in manufactories, as well as elite settings. The simplicity itself carries information! Curator: A fascinating proposition, certainly enriching how we regard this quiet drawing! It allows us to witness both external conflicts and to look inward for more ancient and personal resonances. Editor: Indeed. A few graphite lines revealing complexities that ripple outward still today.