Moot gekookte zalm 1807

Jean Bernard created this drawing of ‘Moot gekookte zalm’, or ‘Soft-boiled salmon’, around 1807 using graphite and gray paper. At first glance, the subject matter is straightforward: a cross-section of cooked salmon rendered in meticulous detail. The muted tones of gray and the precision of the graphite lines give the drawing a scientific quality. However, beyond its representational accuracy, this work prompts a deeper analysis of form and function. The composition invites us to consider the semiotic relationship between the image and its subject. The salmon, neatly bisected, is presented not as food but as an object of study. The careful rendering of its layers, from skin to muscle, transforms the edible into an exercise in visual taxonomy. Bernard seems to dissect not just the fish but our understanding of its place in the natural order. He challenges fixed notions of utility and beauty. The drawing, while seemingly objective, suggests the philosophical debates of its time, highlighting the shift from natural consumption to scientific scrutiny. It underscores art's capacity to disrupt established categories.