Liegendes Rind nach links, den Kopf nach rechts gewandt 

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to a drawing from the Städel Museum, "Liegendes Rind nach links, den Kopf nach rechts gewandt" which translates to "Lying Cow to the Left, Head Turned to the Right." It is believed to be from the hand of Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt, though we are uncertain when. The medium is red chalk. Editor: There is such gentleness conveyed with so little—I’m struck by its calm simplicity. The ochre shades give warmth to the subject; such intimacy arises from the medium itself. Curator: I think that sense of intimacy stems in part from its creation—most likely it was made in a sketchbook. Look closely at the swift application of the red chalk and the ways the texture of the paper appears through the strokes, creating varied effects, particularly to capture the animal’s fur. Editor: Precisely. This drawing raises a question: who gets to rest and how do resources factor into that right? I'm seeing the economic underpinnings that allow for even brief moments of leisure to be captured, reproduced and placed into a museum setting. What does this image, even unintentionally, tell us about pastoral ideals or even social hierarchies? Curator: Interesting point! Cows as property have always carried connotations of prosperity; the tools for making drawings also imply wealth and status. But let's not overlook the cow herself—the musculature described via line weight is both sensitive and anatomically sound, but also practical when you think of cows as material beings in processes of labor. It’s as much about the cow's physical form as her presence. Editor: Yes, and by studying it, what narratives do we, in turn, create about both human and animal labor? Curator: We might not be able to answer definitively. And that is the beauty of an image like this. There is not a grand story to learn. Just observation and materiality. Editor: I'm left to ponder how it connects both artistic endeavor and societal frameworks. The artwork offers such complex social, economic and creative material for observation!