Berglandschap met huis en brug in twee tekenstappen 1836

Louis-Julien Jacottet created this artwork on paper with pen and brush, presenting two distinct yet related landscape studies. The composition immediately divides into two registers, each showcasing a mountain landscape with a prominent house and bridge. In the upper scene, Jacottet employs darker, more defined strokes, giving weight and volume to the architecture and natural elements. The lower scene, in contrast, uses lighter, more skeletal lines, offering a glimpse into the underlying structure of the landscape. This technique invites a comparison between the finished image and its foundational sketch. Jacottet seems to be exploring not just the visual appearance of a scene, but also the very process of its creation. By presenting both stages, he encourages the viewer to consider the semiotic interplay between intention and realization, challenging the notion of a fixed, singular representation. The artwork underscores the idea that meaning is not inherent but is constructed and perceived through varying degrees of completion and detail.