Jaguar 1866 - 1939

Editor: We’re looking at “Jaguar,” a pencil drawing by Bernard Willem Wierink, likely made sometime between 1866 and 1939. It's a horizontal composition, and the animal appears very relaxed, almost docile. What strikes you about the visual construction of this piece? Curator: The focus is undoubtedly on the texture and the form rendered through meticulously applied pencil strokes. Note the variation in line weight and density that defines the animal's contours, creating a palpable sense of volume and dimension. The rendering is almost photographic in its precision, creating the jaguar’s fur patterns, so it is all the more captivating because of its medium of a drawing. Do you perceive a strategic use of light and shadow in shaping our perception? Editor: Absolutely, I notice the sharp contrasts that delineate the jaguar’s form from the simple backdrop, a room of some kind? Curator: The limited depth of field forces the jaguar into the foreground, commanding our immediate attention. The linear elements forming the background also subtly add to the overall texture. Also observe how the animal's form is echoed in a subdued way with the planes of the simple lines of the set. Would you agree that this mirroring of motifs adds a layer of visual cohesion to the artwork? Editor: I do see that! The similar angles in the wood planks make it look more harmonious, and intentional. What do you think about that realism though? Does it restrict how we can read the artwork in any way? Curator: Realism here serves to draw the viewer into a closer, more detailed observation of form and technique, compelling us to engage with its formal elements rather than focusing on other potential aspects like metaphorical meanings. So realism acts almost like a visual language. It’s a kind of visual structure and framework. Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I'm going to look at pencil drawings in a whole new way now, thinking more about what they do. Curator: Indeed, by considering the formal elements, we develop a deeper appreciation of artistic practice, revealing hidden depths of beauty.