Dode duif 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard rendered this delicate drawing of a dead dove using pen and watercolor. The dove, a symbol of peace and purity, is here inverted in death. But consider: the dove has ancient roots, linked to Aphrodite and Venus, goddesses of love and rebirth. Across time, the dove appears in myriad forms, from Christian iconography representing the Holy Spirit to secular emblems of harmony. Yet, here, the lifeless bird evokes a stark contrast. Death, in this context, forces us to confront mortality and the ephemeral nature of beauty. The image, while still, stirs something primal within us, a subtle anxiety regarding the fragility of life, that resonates through cultural memory. Bernard’s drawing isn't merely a depiction of death; it is an echo that vibrates with layers of symbolism, continually evolving, reinventing itself across the ages.