Study of An Eagle 1580

Bartolomeo Passerotti created this Study of an Eagle using pen and ink wash, likely in the late 16th century. The drawing presents a study in contrasts. See how the hatching marks of the pen create volume and texture, yet do not commit to any clear form? The eagle's body is substantial, and the drawing uses its fine lines to render minute details, such as feathers and claws. Yet, the drawing dissolves into abstraction, its lines freeing themselves from any need to cohere to reality. Passerotti destabilizes the traditional relationship between representation and abstraction. The eagle becomes not just a figure but an exercise in pure line and form. This tension between figure and abstraction invites us to question the very nature of representation. Does the drawing depict an eagle, or is the eagle simply a vehicle for exploring the possibilities of line and form?