Liggend geschoren schaap, naar rechts 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard made this drawing of a shorn sheep, facing right, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The Netherlands, where Bernard lived and worked, was then undergoing significant economic and social changes, including agricultural reforms. Images of livestock circulated widely at this time, often serving as symbols of rural life and national identity. Bernard's drawing could be seen in this light, but it's also possible to see it as a commentary on the changing relationship between humans and animals. Notice that the sheep has been shorn. This suggests a focus on the sheep's utility as a source of wool. But the animal is also given a kind of individuality through the detail in the drawing of its face. How are we to understand the place of the animal in this changing world? To explore these questions further, we can consult agricultural records, economic histories, and visual culture studies from this period. Only through this kind of interdisciplinary research can we fully understand the social and cultural meanings of Bernard's drawing.