Stående tyr 1845

Johan Thomas Lundbye created this drawing of a standing bull with pen and ink. The bull, rendered in precise lines, dominates the composition, and it's form is meticulously described through dense, directional hatching. Lundbye's careful attention to the musculature and texture of the bull transforms the animal into a study of organic form and movement. The structure of the bull’s body is built from hatching, but also evokes a sense of the animal’s mass and presence. The treatment of light and shadow across the animal lends it a sculptural quality, but more than that, the bull's gaze, directed slightly off to the left, infuses the drawing with a sense of vitality. It's a reminder of the enduring power of drawing to capture the essence of life through line and form.