The Education of a Dog 1745 - 1976

Jean-Honoré Fragonard made this drawing, "The Education of a Dog," with brown wash on laid paper. The choice of materials here is telling. Fragonard wasn't after the precise rendering of oil paint; instead, he wanted to capture the immediacy of a fleeting moment. The fluidity of the wash allowed him to create depth and shadow with remarkable efficiency. Look closely, and you’ll see how he used the varying dilutions of the wash to suggest different textures, from the soft folds of the women’s dresses to the playful fur of the dog. Drawings like this were often made in preparation for paintings. But they also existed as independent works of art, prized for their spontaneity. In a way, this mirrors the subject of the drawing itself: the informal, playful education of a pet. Paying attention to these materials and the way they're handled helps us appreciate Fragonard's skill, challenging any perceived hierarchy between drawing and painting, or craft and fine art.