Schets van een tapir 1706

"Schets van een tapir" (Sketch of a Tapir) is a graphite drawing on paper by Dutch artist Willem Hendrik Wilhelmus van Royen, dating from 1706. The drawing captures a tapir in profile, with the animal's distinctive snout and body shape clearly delineated in subtle strokes. Van Royen's sketches often served as preparatory studies for his larger works, and this drawing demonstrates his ability to capture the essence of his subjects in quick and expressive lines. The artwork is a valuable example of the detailed naturalism that characterized Dutch animal studies in the early 18th century.