Liggend wild zwijn 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard created this drawing of a 'Liggend wild zwijn,' or reclining wild boar, using pen and gray ink, sometime prior to his death in 1833. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, there was a growing fascination with the natural world, fueled by scientific exploration and Romantic ideals. Bernard's choice to depict a wild boar, an animal often associated with the hunt and wilderness, reflects the era's interest in untamed nature. The boar, rendered with careful detail, exists in a state of repose, seemingly vulnerable. What does it mean to see this typically feared animal at rest? This work raises questions about human interaction with the natural world. Is it a celebration of wildlife or does it, perhaps, reveal a tension between admiration and the desire to dominate? Consider how the artist's choice of medium and the boar’s pose influence your own emotional response to the drawing.