Magere Kuh nach rechts, in Verkürzung rückansichtig 

Curator: This red-chalk drawing from the Städel Museum is entitled "Magere Kuh nach rechts, in Verkürzung rückansichtig." The artist is Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt, though the date remains unspecified. Editor: Oh, poor thing, she looks a bit worse for wear, doesn't she? Sort of scraggly and contemplative all at once. I am moved by this, this isn't some bovine idealization. Curator: Indeed. It appears to be a preparatory study, judging by the quick, economical lines. Notice how Hirt employs a distinct cross-hatching to suggest form and volume, particularly along the back and hindquarters of the cow. Editor: It's funny how just a few lines can make something feel so weighty, though. The way he captures that curve of the spine! Makes you feel the heft of her, even with those ribs poking out. You know? Curator: Certainly. The deliberate foreshortening, indicated in the title, enhances the three-dimensionality of the subject. Hirt seems interested in exploring perspective and anatomical accuracy here. This shows us his masterful control over his technique and how it conveys weight and form in such a simplistic yet sophisticated manner. Editor: You know, it kind of makes me think about our own impermanence, too. This cow isn’t idealized and perfectly plump but there's this sense of perseverance there, of life continuing regardless. The reality of animals back in the old times: tough. It gives it soul, ya know. Curator: That interpretation is possible given how he emphasizes the physical qualities, we could connect those with the real struggles in the pastoral setting that perhaps were much harder for all involved. The formal considerations suggest a different interpretation: it could well be an academic exploration in artistic language. Editor: Maybe both things can be true. He wanted to hone his technique and capture the cow and its truth. Curator: Indeed. These swift marks give it such character. The piece displays a wonderful tension between precision and expressiveness that certainly holds our gaze. Editor: Absolutely. And perhaps reminds us that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.