Studienblatt_ Kuh und Schaf 

Karl Peter Burnitz made this sketch of a cow and a sheep in Germany, sometime in the mid-19th century. It’s now held at the Städel Museum. This drawing exemplifies the kind of academic exercises common in European art schools during the period. The representation of animals, especially farm animals, had become a subject of interest in the Romantic era, as artists sought to reconnect with nature and rural life. But such sketches also served practical functions. Burnitz, like many artists of his time, would have been trained to accurately depict animals for use in larger compositions. These images of livestock were increasingly valued in a rapidly industrializing society, offering a nostalgic view of agrarian life even as it disappeared. To fully understand Burnitz’s artistic choices, one might consult period agricultural journals, museum records, and studies of art education during the rise of industrial capitalism. Ultimately, understanding art requires understanding its relationship to its social and institutional context.