Lying cow 

Editor: Here we have a red-chalk drawing entitled "Lying Cow," by Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt. It's currently residing in the Städel Museum. The artwork has an intimate feel, almost like a quick sketch from a personal sketchbook. How do you interpret this work? Curator: What strikes me is the unpretentious nature of the subject. Cows, especially in the 18th century, were integral to the socio-economic landscape, weren't they? Not merely livestock, but embodiments of sustenance, labor, and even a marker of status, right? How does that knowledge shape our reading of this drawing? Editor: That's a good point, they were certainly more important back then for daily survival than they are now, at least in the West. It kind of makes the drawing feel like a social commentary, or perhaps even a study of rural life? Curator: Precisely. But is it idealized, romanticized, or brutally honest? Hirt’s choice of red chalk adds warmth and texture, humanizing the animal. Consider the lack of idealization, that could be construed as an argument, no? For valuing the mundane, the working animal stripped of any artistic pretension? What societal values might that challenge? Editor: It does feel very realistic and relatable. If we view this drawing in light of today's world, would you say that this might reflect a connection with our food systems and questions surrounding animal welfare? Curator: Absolutely. Hirt's cow could spark conversations around contemporary issues. Our relationship with animals hasn't evolved enough and this prompts reflection. Has our consumption of the natural world changed or simply amplified inequalities? Editor: I see it now; looking at this drawing, then, goes beyond the aesthetics of art, making the artwork a thought-provoking reflection on society! Curator: Indeed, it transforms a seemingly simple drawing into a powerful social and historical dialogue.