Zal dat beest een vegetariër zoo behandelen - Alfred Michael Roedstad Schmidt

A humorous ink drawing by Danish artist Alfred Michael Roedstad Schmidt, depicting a tense encounter between a man and a bull in a field.

This ink drawing by the Danish artist Alfred Michael Roedstad Schmidt captures a moment of humorous tension between a man and a bull. The title, translated from the Dutch inscription, poses the rhetorical question: 'Would a beast treat a vegetarian like that?' The scene depicts a startled man, dressed in a formal coat, confronting a bull in a field. The animal appears ready to charge, while the man gestures in a state of alarm.

Schmidt, known for his contributions to satirical publications and his work as a cartoonist, employs a direct and economical line style. The drawing relies on simple contours to define the figures and the surrounding environment, such as the wooden fence and the tree in the background. The composition is balanced, with the man on the right and the bull on the left, creating a clear narrative interaction. The artist uses minimal shading, allowing the expressive poses of the subjects to convey the humour of the situation.

This work reflects the tradition of early 20th-century caricature, where social commentary was often delivered through lighthearted, observational scenes. The inclusion of the handwritten inscription at the bottom adds a personal, immediate quality to the piece, suggesting it may have been a preparatory sketch or a private study for a published cartoon. The clean lines and focus on character expression demonstrate Schmidt's ability to distil a complex interaction into a single, readable image. The work remains a clear example of the artist's skill in observational drawing and his penchant for situational comedy.