Vis, naar links 1775 - 1833

This is an undated drawing of a sturgeon, made in graphite on paper by Jean Bernard. The artist paid close attention to the fish’s distinctive form: the sharp snout, whisker-like barbels, and rows of bony plates along its back and sides. But consider the social context: during Bernard’s lifetime, the late 18th and early 19th centuries, such drawings often served scientific purposes. They were commissioned to document nature, contributing to the era’s ambitious projects of classification. Drawings like this demanded a particular skill. The artist had to render form accurately, with a good eye for detail, yet also lend the image an objective feel. This wasn’t an expressive portrait, but rather an attempt at neutral transcription. We might think about this in relation to the labor involved: the work of the draftsman became a means to efface the hand, subordinating artistic gesture to scientific observation.