Painting by Edward Vischer depicting "The California Method" of killing cattle on the ranch, before 1875

Photograph of the painting by Edward Vischer depicting "The California Method" of killing cattle on the ranch, before 1875. Two cowboys on horseback have roped the steer by its hind legs and horns, respectively and have stretched it immobile so that the third cowboy, at center, is able to safely slit the throat of the bull with the knife he holds. A fourth ranch hand is visible on horseback in the distance while children, an unsaddled horse, and other men stand to his sides to the right of a small adobe house. To the right, yet more people stand beneath a tree in the center distance, or along the post-and-rail fence of a corral. The text underneath the image identifies the procedure as well as the fact that the steer was intended for hides and tallow. The text also reads "Matanza" to the right. Vischer's signature, which usually appears in the bottom right corner of a drawing or painting, does not appear on the image.