Two cattle heads 

Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt rendered "Two Cattle Heads" in sanguine chalk on paper. Without further context about Hirt, the drawing invites us to consider the historical and cultural status of cattle. Historically, cattle have symbolized wealth, power, and sustenance. However, this association masks the reality of industrialized animal farming, which reduces living beings to commodities. The gaze of the larger cow is knowing. Her gaze pierces through romanticized notions of pastoral life, hinting at the complex relationship between humans and animals. As viewers, are we implicated in a system that exploits and commodifies living beings? The drawing serves as a reminder of the ethical considerations surrounding our treatment of animals, urging us to confront uncomfortable truths about our place in the natural world. It is a quiet yet profound statement on our moral obligations to the creatures with whom we share the planet.