Venus and Adonis n.d.

Louis Chéron created this drawing, Venus and Adonis, with pen and brown ink, and brown wash over graphite at an unknown date. Notice the use of line that carves out the figures from the ground, which serves not only to define form but also to create depth and shadow. Chéron uses a formal, classical composition by arranging the figures in a pyramidal structure. The classical composition and style is a signifier of a certain type of artistic knowledge that was considered desirable during this period. We can read this drawing as a study in form and an exploration of the classical ideal. Here, Chéron is less interested in the narrative drama of Venus and Adonis, but is engaging in a dialogue with artistic tradition. Through the study of form, line and composition Chéron reminds us that art is not just a mirror reflecting the world, but a structured language that offers a unique way of understanding it.