Studieblad met leeuwen en welpen 1885 - 1886

This study of lions and cubs was made in 1895 by Jan van Essen, using pen and ink on paper. The sepia wash gives warmth to the paper, providing a contrasting ground for the frenetic energy of the line work. The artist has used hatching and cross-hatching to describe the musculature and fur of the animals, capturing the way that light falls on their forms. Yet the material itself has as much to say as the representational skill of the artist. The linear quality of the drawing medium is ideal for rapidly capturing the shapes and forms of the creatures, evoking the animal’s inherent vitality. The medium is also capable of great precision, allowing van Essen to record minute details. The study isn't highly finished. Instead, it shows a moment of careful observation – a fleeting record of the private lives of animals. This drawing reminds us that even the simplest materials, when wielded with skill, can offer profound insight.