Zittende jongen met ezel c. 1754 - 1782

This is a black chalk drawing called, “Zittende jongen met ezel,” made by Quentin Pierre Chedel. In this piece, we observe a resting boy, sitting down at the center of the composition, accompanied by a donkey in a rural landscape. The entire composition is rendered in shades of gray and white, giving it a monochromatic, austere quality. The marks that define shapes, volume, and space seem almost scientific in their precision. Note how the artist varies the density and direction of the lines to give the impression of texture and depth. The scene is constructed through methodical, almost taxonomic cataloging of lines. The textures of the figure's clothing, the animal's fur, and the distant foliage are all defined by distinct sets of lines. This method presents a way of seeing and ordering the world, reducing it to its elemental components. The organization of this piece destabilizes our conventional expectations and offers a fresh perspective on familiar scenes.