Staand ingespannen paard, naar links 1815

Jean Bernard captured this standing horse in harness with a humble pencil on paper. The soft graphite yields to pressure, creating darker lines that define the horse's musculature and the intricate strapping of its harness. Look closely, and you'll notice how the artist used hatching – closely spaced parallel lines – to build up tone and volume. This technique, common in drawing and printmaking, allows Bernard to suggest the play of light and shadow on the horse's coat, and the texture of its mane. The choice of pencil, a relatively inexpensive and readily available material, speaks to the drawing's function as a study. But it also tells us about the horse's social role. In the pre-industrial world, animals provided essential labor for agriculture and transport. By depicting the horse in harness, ready for work, Bernard acknowledges its contribution to society, giving dignity to the everyday labor of both animal and human. The simplicity of the medium underscores the integral role of working animals in daily life.