En liggende bjørn 1743 - 1809

Curator: Here we have Nicolai Abildgaard's "En liggende bjørn," or "A Reclining Bear," rendered sometime between 1743 and 1809. Abildgaard worked primarily with ink in this drawing, a medium that lends itself so well to the depiction of textures. Editor: Well, my first impression is of profound weariness. The bear looks absolutely exhausted, doesn't it? All that fur just seems to weigh him down. And that somber, almost brooding, brown wash in the background—it’s like he's carrying the weight of the world on his furry shoulders. Curator: It’s a potent image of animal nature. Abildgaard was deeply influenced by the Neoclassical emphasis on form and line, yet also gravitated towards Romanticism’s fascination with the sublime and the raw power of nature. The bear, often a symbol of strength, is here shown in a state of repose, perhaps even vulnerability. The tight curls that express the bear's fur and form almost gives the effect of him reclining upon a chaise lounge. Editor: I think you've hit the nail on the head with that "vulnerability" reading. We expect a bear to be fearsome, and here he is, curled up, almost foetal, paws tucked near his face. It's strangely endearing, this deconstruction of a symbol. Also, this piece reminds me a bit of something I may have seen from Goya - his mastery over ink and wash. Curator: Interesting point. Bears in art often serve as symbols of either brute force or untamed wilderness, or even figures in allegorical tales. In contrast, this work presents an intriguing juxtaposition, an intimacy. Consider how he rendered each contour of the fur and muscle...the weight is practically palpable. Perhaps Abildgaard sought to humanize this creature. Editor: Maybe so. Or maybe, to bear-ize humans? If that makes any sense. Either way, this sleepy bear makes me want to curl up and nap for about a hundred years myself. Curator: A powerful resonance between viewer and subject, wouldn't you say? I find that compelling. It prompts us to see ourselves mirrored in this magnificent beast, revealing shared vulnerabilities and inherent gentleness beneath even the most formidable exterior. Editor: A moment of quiet empathy across species. I appreciate how Abildgaard captures that so economically.