Grazende stier, naar rechts 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard created this drawing of a grazing bull with graphite, sometime before 1833. The composition is deceptively simple: a bull dominates the foreground, its form meticulously rendered with subtle gradations of tone. The animal is placed off-center, creating a dynamic tension within the frame. Bernard’s skill is evident in the detailed cross-hatching that defines the bull’s muscular build and patterned hide. This technique, common in academic drawing, allowed him to model form and capture subtle shifts in light and shadow. However, the seemingly objective representation is mediated by the artistic choices that frame our perception. The landscape, sketched with minimal detail, serves to emphasize the bull’s physicality. The use of graphite allows for a controlled and precise application, resulting in a study that is both representational and abstract. The tension between the idealized form of the animal and the somewhat abstracted landscape reflects a broader cultural interest in nature and its artistic representation during this period. Ultimately, the bull becomes not just an animal, but an emblem of nature itself.