Zwei liegende und ein stehendes Rind 

Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt captured these resting and standing cattle in a sketch held at the Städel Museum. Cattle, these gentle creatures, often symbolize nourishment and abundance. Historically, they are tied to fertility cults and were revered as sacred animals, particularly the bull, in ancient Minoan and Egyptian cultures. Consider the tale of Europa and the bull—Zeus in disguise—a potent symbol of transformation and desire. Yet, their portrayal here is less about grandeur and more about a quiet, pastoral existence. This return to simpler representations mirrors a cyclical pattern, where symbols are stripped of overt power and reinvested with new emotional resonance, tapping into our collective memory of nature's tranquil rhythms. The image evokes a sense of calm, a pastoral idyll that invites reflection.