Standing ox to the left 

This is Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt's sketch of a 'Standing Ox to the Left', which can be found at the Städel Museum. The image presents a seemingly straightforward depiction of a farm animal. But let's consider the socio-economic context within which this image was produced. Who commissioned it and for what purpose? During Hirt's time, there was a growing interest in agrarian reform and scientific agriculture. The image might have served a didactic purpose, for example to illustrate the ideal characteristics of livestock for improving breeding practices. The rendering of animals as noble subjects elevated agriculture, transforming it from a mundane necessity into a subject worthy of artistic exploration and scholarly study. By examining agricultural treatises, estate records, and the publications of scientific societies, we can deepen our understanding of how this artwork intersected with broader debates about land use, rural economy, and the relationship between humans and animals. In doing so, we recognize that even the simplest of images are embedded in complex social and institutional contexts.