Twee varkens 1632 - 1678

Karel du Jardin’s diminutive drawing presents two pigs rendered with a striking economy of line. The texture of the paper support is integral to the composition, its rough grain mirroring the coarse hides of the animals. Notice how the artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to create volume and shadow, giving a tangible sense of weight to these humble creatures. There's a formal tension between the detailed rendering of the pig on the left, caught mid-stride, and the more abstract depiction of the pig on the right, whose rear view is almost sculptural in its simplicity. Du Jardin seems interested in more than mere representation. The scale invites an intimate viewing experience, demanding close inspection and contemplation. This work challenges conventional notions of beauty, elevating the mundane through skillful manipulation of form and texture. It reminds us that artistic merit can reside in the simplest of subjects, awaiting discovery through attentive looking.