Artwork
Sanglier (Wild Boar Lying Down, Head to the Left)
Sanglier (Wild Boar Lying Down, Head to the Left) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jean Eric Rehn. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean‑Eric Rehn’s print titled Sanglier (Wild Boar Lying Down, Head to the Left) is an etching and engraving executed in 1745. The work presents a solitary boar curled on a grassy ground, its eyes closed and body relaxed. Rendered in monochrome, the image measures the animal’s mass and texture through a network of fine, intersecting lines.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment of repose rather than action, emphasizing the creature’s natural stillness. By depicting the boar with a lowered head and closed eyes, Rehn invites contemplation of the animal’s vulnerability and the quiet rhythm of rural life, contrasting the typical portrayal of wild beasts as aggressive or hunted.
Technique & Style
Rehn employed both etching and engraving on a copper plate, allowing him to vary line depth and density. Delicate, cross‑hatching conveys the roughness of the boar’s hide, while broader strokes suggest the surrounding grass. The combination of these intaglio methods produces subtle tonal gradations that give the animal a palpable sense of weight and breath.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑18th century, the print belongs to Rehn’s series of animal studies, a genre popular among European collectors of the time. Although specific ownership records are limited, comparable works by the artist are held in institutions such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, indicating the work’s continued scholarly interest.
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