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Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt captured this standing cow in a delicate, sparse sketch with brown ink. With no information about the date, we might think about the historical context that elevates livestock to artistic subject. Cows were important for agricultural societies, and their well-being was directly related to the economy of a region. Was Hirt making a simple study, or trying to immortalize this animal? The cow here is standing still but is titled ‘meagre’ which gives the portrait an emotional pull. The gentle lines convey the animal's vulnerability. The cow’s economic importance may have been in conflict with the sentimental value attached to this living, breathing creature. Hirt prompts us to reflect on how society assigns value to the natural world, intertwining economic necessity with personal connection.