Kop van een bergeend Possibly 1828

Jean Bernard made this study of a duck’s head with pencil, pen and watercolour. The drawing compels our attention with its almost scientific scrutiny, yet there's an inherent artistry in the way Bernard captures the nuances of the bird's form and texture. Notice how Bernard employed a delicate combination of line and shading to model the head. The precision in depicting the bill and eye contrasts with the softer, almost feathery quality of the neck, creating a visual tension between detail and suggestion. The use of monochromatic tones, punctuated by subtle hints of watercolour, enhances the study's depth, giving it a sculptural presence. The orientation of the head in profile and the cropping of the image contribute to a sense of immediacy, almost as if we are observing the duck in its natural environment. The linear precision creates a representation which speaks of a broader engagement with Enlightenment ideals of observation, classification, and empirical knowledge. This is an artwork which captures the essence of its subject with a profound sense of artistic and intellectual curiosity.