Jong beertje (?) 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard made this drawing of a young bear, using graphite, sometime before his death in 1833. The drawing is an exquisite demonstration of a particular skill: to create a convincing illusion of three dimensions on a flat surface. Look closely, and you'll see the artist’s touch. Bernard has built up tone with hundreds of tiny parallel lines, a technique called hatching. Through careful observation, he has captured the form of the bear cub, from its fluffy coat to its diminutive stature. The real achievement here is the way Bernard has recorded the appearance of this animal with such accuracy and sensitivity. In his era, the ability to draw well was highly prized. It was a form of knowledge, a way of understanding the world. In that sense, this drawing is both a work of art, and a piece of scientific data, a record of close observation. By valuing these works, we expand our understanding of art history.