Grazende ezel, van rechts 1750 - 1809

David Alphonse de Sandoz-Rollin made this drawing of a grazing donkey with pen and gray ink, around the late 18th century. It is quite rare to see an image of a donkey during this time. Equines such as horses were seen as noble animals, whereas donkeys were associated with the working class. Looking at the image in more detail, we can appreciate how Sandoz-Rollin makes use of the contrast between the white body of the donkey and the shadow it casts, to create a sense of depth and volume. The drawing was made in Switzerland, where the artist was born. The image can be seen as a comment on the social structures of the time, with its focus on the working-class animal. In order to understand this image better, it would be useful to look at the wider social and cultural context in which it was made, including the history of animal representation in art, and the role of donkeys in Swiss society at the time.