Kop van een konijn 1821

Jean Bernard created this head of a rabbit using graphite on paper. The drawing is dominated by the texture of the rabbit's fur. Bernard uses densely layered graphite strokes to build up the form and create a palpable sense of its softness. The composition centers the rabbit's head in profile, allowing us to observe the details of its physiognomy. The artist plays with light and shadow, creating contrast that defines the shape and emphasizes the animal's features, its eye and whiskers, and its long ear. In semiotic terms, each line and shade functions as a sign, contributing to our recognition of the subject and our understanding of the rabbit's texture. The formal qualities of this drawing—its delicate lines and detailed shading—invite us to contemplate the nature of representation and the artist's skill in capturing the essence of his subject. It's a study in observation and technique, where the medium itself becomes a crucial element in the transmission of meaning.