Liggende tijger, en kop van een tijger 1864 - 1936

Jan van Essen rendered this drawing, "Liggende tijger, en kop van een tijger," with graphite and crayon on paper. The composition is divided into two unequal parts, with the tiger's reclining form dominating the upper section and its head sketched below. Essen’s manipulation of line and shading invites contemplation on the animal’s presence and absence. The tiger’s body is substantially rendered with crayon, emphasizing its mass, while the sketch of the head is formed through quick, repetitive graphite lines. The tiger's gaze is intense, with its face emerging from the paper's surface. Essen’s choice to represent the tiger through partial and fragmented depictions challenges the viewer’s perception. The negative space surrounding the tiger becomes as important as the drawn subject itself. Incomplete yet potent, the drawing exists as both image and idea.