Negen oren 1820 - 1833

Jean Augustin Daiwaille made this drawing, Negen Oren or Nine Ears, using graphite on paper. What we have here is not an artwork in the typical sense. This is a study. You can see the artist exploring his subject, the human ear, from a variety of angles and in different styles. The tonal range achieved with the graphite is quite impressive. Daiwaille coaxes a full spectrum of light and shadow from what is, after all, a very humble material. Before photography, drawings like this were essential for scientific and artistic training. Students learned to see and represent the world through careful observation and skillful rendering. The repetitive nature of the exercise, the close attention to detail, and the mastery of technique - these were all valued skills in a pre-industrial world. So, while this may not be a finished masterpiece, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the working methods of an earlier era, reminding us that even the most seemingly mundane materials can yield extraordinary results when handled with care and precision.