Grasender Stier nach rechts 

"Grasender Stier nach rechts", or "grazing bull facing right", is a red chalk drawing by Johann Heinrich Roos, created sometime in the 17th century. Roos, who lived from 1631 to 1685, was known for his animal depictions, and this drawing exemplifies his skill in capturing the naturalism of livestock. During the 17th century, there was a growing interest in pastoral scenes that reflected both an idealized view of rural life and the economic realities of agriculture. This work situates itself within a broader history of animal representation that often overlooks the labor and sentience of animals, instead focusing on their symbolic or economic value. What might it mean to look at this bull not just as an aesthetic object but as a being with its own history, labor, and desires? Consider how Roos's drawing invites us to contemplate our relationship with the natural world and our role within it.