Vos jagend op een konijn 1834 - 1890

Charles Verlat created this etching, "Fox Hunting a Rabbit," using lines to build form and depth. The composition arranges the fox and rabbit at opposing corners of the image, connected by a diagonal. Note how Verlat uses the density and direction of the lines to convey the fox's tense body, poised and ready. The surrounding foliage is rendered with looser marks, creating a contrast between the focused energy of the fox and the static environment. This visual structure reflects a broader concern with naturalism and the depiction of animals, influenced by scientific discourses of the time. The fox and rabbit can be seen as signs within a semiotic system, representing predator and prey, instinct and survival. Verlat uses these formal and symbolic elements to create a commentary on natural processes, inviting us to think about the underlying structures of nature and our relationship to them.