Geslacht varken Possibly 1796

This image of a slaughtered pig was made by Jean Bernard around the turn of the 19th century, using watercolor on paper. Notice the starkness with which the animal is presented, flayed open to reveal the interior. It’s posed on a simple wooden frame – humble materials for sure. It’s fair to say that Bernard was interested in the process, and the labor, that brings meat to the table. The image is also an example of craft, of course: the delicate washes of color, and the precision of line, show us an artist at work. But it’s a very different kind of “artistic” labor than, say, painting a portrait. It has a different purpose; it’s descriptive, diagrammatic even, and it reflects a wider culture of labor and consumption. The image challenges our expectations, encouraging us to think about how meat production and other forms of sustenance can be understood as skilled trades. Ultimately, it blurs the line between art and craft.