Dood muisje 1822

Jean Bernard created this delicate drawing of a ‘Dead Mouse’ on paper sometime before his death in 1833. A contemporary of the French Revolution, Bernard lived in a time of massive upheaval which questioned the very foundations of social hierarchies. In earlier eras of Dutch art, the still life was a popular genre for exploring class and wealth. However, here, Bernard subverts these traditions by focusing on a humble, deceased mouse. The drawing offers an intimate look at an often overlooked creature. There's something deeply affecting about the way Bernard captures the mouse’s stillness. Its tiny limbs are outstretched, and its delicate whiskers are frozen in time. This directness creates an undeniable emotional connection. In a world that so often prizes power and status, Bernard's choice to immortalize a small, dead animal invites us to reconsider our relationship with the vulnerable. It offers a poignant reflection on mortality, and the value of life in all its forms.