Kop en pootje van een slapende kat 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard made this lovely drawing of a sleeping cat, its head and paw resting on a ledge, sometime before his death in 1833. It’s rendered in graphite and red chalk, humble materials that nonetheless allow for a high degree of expressiveness. Look closely, and you’ll see how Bernard coaxes a wealth of tonality from these simple means. The soft fur of the cat is evoked by delicate hatching, while the firmer lines of the ledge give a sense of solid form. What's more, Bernard's choice of materials is significant. Graphite, though now commonplace, was then a relatively new medium, associated with scientific drawing and precision. The addition of red chalk adds a touch of warmth, softening the overall effect. The drawing’s power resides in the combination of technical skill and observational acuity, elevating a simple domestic subject to a moment of quiet beauty. Bernard has taken inexpensive materials and, through his artistic labor, transformed them into something precious.