Twee schapen / Wormen vangen / Eend vangen 1729 - 1730

Bernard Picart created this print, "Two Sheep / Catching Worms / Catching a Duck," which resides in the Rijksmuseum. The work is structured into three distinct registers, each capturing a separate scene within a unified composition. Picart employs etching to delineate forms and textures with a precise linearity. The animals, rendered with meticulous detail, display a naturalism that contrasts with the geometric precision of the frames encasing each scene. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth, drawing the viewer into the pastoral and somewhat uncanny world depicted. The composition invites us to consider the relationship between nature and artifice. The structured layout reflects a broader intellectual interest in cataloging and understanding the natural world through rational frameworks. Picart challenges the conventional boundaries between artistic representation and scientific observation. The work destabilizes a singular meaning and opens a dialogue on human intervention and its impact on the natural order.