Landschap met dromedaris, op de rug gezien 1683 - 1733

Bernard Picart created this drawing titled "Landscape with Dromedary, Seen from the Back" with pen and ink. The composition is dominated by the figure of the camel, whose rear perspective fills the frame. Notice how the artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to define the animal's musculature and form. The landscape is minimally suggested, serving mainly as a stage for the animal, emphasizing its imposing physicality. This focus shifts our attention from a traditional landscape scene to the formal qualities of the animal itself. The use of line and shading not only describes the camel’s form but also evokes a tactile sense of its skin and weight. The seemingly simple drawing invites us to consider the relationship between representation and reality, as well as the way an artist can transform a common animal into a study of form and texture. It exemplifies how a focus on structure can reveal the subtle ways in which art engages with its subject matter.