Ein Ochse, der sich mit dem Kopfe an einem Pfahl reibt 

"Ein Ochse, der sich mit dem Kopfe an einem Pfahl reibt" at the Städel Museum is a drawing by Karel Dujardin. The composition is strikingly simple: a bull, rendered with delicate lines, occupies the majority of the pictorial space alongside a post. Dujardin's choice of medium allows for a detailed examination of form and texture; look at how the varied application of graphite—from the lightest shading to denser, darker lines—delineates the animal's musculature and the rough surface of the post. The tree in the background creates depth, yet the focus remains resolutely on the ox and its interaction with the man-made structure. The act of rubbing against the post could symbolize a challenge to any imposed structure. It offers a commentary on the tension between nature and culture. This seemingly simple scene invites us to consider broader themes of power, resistance, and the imposition of order on the natural world.