Leeuw op het gras 1729

This is Bernard Picart’s etching "Lion on the Grass," created sometime between 1673 and 1733. A close look reveals how Picart used the stark contrast between the delicate, precise lines of the lion and the smooth, empty space around it. The lion is captured in a moment of repose. Picart used hatching and cross-hatching techniques to give volume to the lion’s body, while the simplified landscape grounds it. The lion’s gaze, directed slightly off-center, brings a sense of alertness to the composition, which could reference enlightenment philosophies, where the emphasis was on observation, reason, and empirical evidence. By focusing on the lion's form and texture, Picart invites us to appreciate the animal's physical presence while suggesting symbolic dimensions that are open to interpretation. The interplay between the detailed depiction and the broader philosophical context shows us how meaning in art is always evolving.