Opgerold liggende, slapende kat 1775 - 1833

Here we see Jean Bernard's "Opgerold liggende, slapende kat", a drawing now held in the Rijksmuseum, whose dimensions barely exceed that of a postcard. The drawing offers a masterclass in the use of line and shadow to convey form and texture. Bernard uses the monochromatic medium to its fullest, creating depth and volume through varying densities of hatching and cross-hatching. The composition is deceptively simple: a curled-up cat dominates the frame, its form a study in organic curvature against the stark, geometric lines of the paper. Bernard's choice to focus on the sleeping cat raises questions about representation and the gaze. The cat, unaware of being observed, becomes an object of contemplation. It is an exploration into the essence of form and being. The soft rendering belies a deeper engagement with the structure of observation itself. The drawing invites us to consider how we perceive and assign meaning.