Seven sheep 

Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt sketched these seven sheep with graphite on paper, capturing their quiet presence. The flock is a potent symbol, deeply rooted in our cultural memory. Think of the "Good Shepherd" in Christian iconography, a motif that hearkens back to ancient pastoral traditions. The shepherd, a protector and guide, watches over his flock, each sheep representing a member of the faithful. But this image also appears in pre-Christian contexts, like the ancient Greek figure of Hermes the Shepherd, where sheep symbolize care, guidance, and pastoral ideals. Here, the sheep are simply resting, yet, we cannot help but see them as representing innocence and vulnerability. The collective memory of the flock—its associations with protection, guidance, and purity—engages us on a subconscious level. As this image shows, these motifs resurface throughout history, constantly evolving in meaning and emotional resonance, reminding us of the cyclical nature of cultural symbols and the deep well of human experience from which they emerge.