Twee stierenkoppen 1809 - 1833

Jean Bernard's 'Two Bulls’ Heads,' captured in ink, presents us with potent symbols that resonate through time. The bull, a recurring motif in human expression, signifies strength, virility, and untamed power, deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness. Consider the bull's prominent role in ancient Minoan culture, where bull-leaping rituals were a testament to human courage and agility, or the sacred bull Apis in ancient Egypt, revered as a symbol of fertility and divine power. The symbol of the bull reappears throughout history, evolving from a divine figure to a representation of brute force. Here, the presence of a chain on one of the bulls introduces a layer of domestication, a symbolic subjugation of primal instincts. This tension engages viewers, stirring primal memories embedded within the cultural psyche. The juxtaposition of these primal symbols embodies the complexities of human existence – the interplay between instinct and control, nature and culture.