Macropus sp. (Kangaroo) 1788

John Hunter’s drawing ‘Macropus sp. (Kangaroo)’ presents a study in tonal contrast and line. Executed with graphite, the image depicts a kangaroo, its form doubled by a pale shadow, standing on what appears to be an abstract plane. Hunter's use of line is precise, defining the kangaroo's muscular structure and profile. The hatching technique creates a sense of depth, highlighting the texture of the fur. The shadow, rendered in a lighter tone, adds a dimension of temporality, suggesting movement and the passage of time. The abstract, patterned ground beneath the kangaroo contrasts with the detailed rendering of the animal, inviting us to question the relationship between the subject and its environment. The composition plays with ideas of presence and absence, representation and reality. The kangaroo, both there and not there, embodies a Derridean différance, destabilizing the stability of the image. It reflects how signs function by differing from and deferring to other signs. Hunter's drawing prompts us to consider how the formal qualities of line, tone, and composition engage with broader philosophical notions of perception and representation.