Liggende geit, naar rechts 1816

Jean Bernard made this drawing of a resting goat in the late 18th or early 19th century. It's a humble work, just graphite on paper. But look closely, and you’ll see an extraordinary sensitivity to the material. See how Bernard uses a layered hatching technique to build up tone and volume. It's a painstaking method, one that demands careful labor. The artist coaxes a surprising range of expression from the humble graphite stick. The soft, grainy texture of the graphite lends itself perfectly to depicting the goat’s woolly coat, capturing its weight and warmth. The sharp point of the pencil allows Bernard to define the animal’s features. Bernard's work, like that of many draftsmen, was often preparatory to some further end. He may have intended to make it into a print, or just enjoyed the quiet observation. In either case, we can appreciate the direct connection between the artist’s hand, his chosen materials, and the final image. Appreciating the skill and labor involved allows us to move beyond traditional art history, and to consider the value of the craft itself.