Housed in the Louvre, the Slaughtered Ox is a 1665 still life, representing the carcass of an ox hung up to bleed. The rack on which the butchered animal is hung is presented to the viewer with vivid rich detail, whilst in the dimness of the background, the head of a young woman peers tentatively into the space where the animal hangs, introducing an element of questioning into the scene. Rembrandt has portrayed the ox with thick strokes, making the meat appear lifelike. Like a butcher himself, the artist’s strokes seem to cut into the canvas, vividly bringing to life the rotting corpse of the animal.
Various hidden meanings have been given to this unique composition, one of which links to the parable of the prodigal son. The Biblical story concerns a son that leaves his father and spends all his money. After realising he has gained nothing and lost everything, the son returns home and his father greets him with open arms and orders the slaughter of the fatted calf to celebrate his homecoming. Therefore, Rembrandt could be playing on the iconography of the fatted calf with the representation of the slaughtered ox.
Another interpretation could be a reference to the Biblical Crucifixion. Parallels can easily be seen between the frame on which the slaughtered ox is stretched and to Christ hanging from the cross. Others have identified a relationship between the young girl and the rotting corpse as a parallel of life and death, where Rembrandt explores the fragility of life and the ephemeral nature of this world.