Bei einem Wasser zwei Kühe, zwei Pferde und eine Ziege, links der Hirte mit dem Hunde 

Bernhard Heinrich Thier created “Bei einem Wasser zwei Kühe, zwei Pferde und eine Ziege, links der Hirte mit dem Hunde" using pen and grey ink and grey wash, sometime around the late 18th century. During this period, landscape art often idealized rural life, reflecting a longing for simpler times amidst rapid social and economic changes. Thier's depiction of pastoral harmony, with animals peacefully coexisting by the water, speaks to these desires, while his life remains somewhat shrouded in mystery. The ambiguity of the figures –are they laborers, or are they simply resting?– invites contemplation. The act of observing becomes central, as Thier positions us, along with the shepherd, as viewers of this scene. This creates a layered experience of looking, subtly challenging traditional hierarchies within landscape painting. Through its delicate details and quiet contemplation, this piece prompts us to reflect on our own relationship to nature and labor, and the stories we tell ourselves about both.