Faint Sketch of a Rearing Beast and Struggling Animals
Rapid pen study of animals in violent motion
A rapid and very faint pen-and-ink sketch in reddish-brown ink covers this small sheet. At the right a quadruped rears up on its hind legs with its forelegs raised, while at the left and centre further animal forms are tangled together in a loose, agitated mass that suggests a struggle or combat. The strokes are light and summary, and much of the composition is worn and hard to read. A collector's stamp appears at the lower right; no text accompanies the drawing.
On this page
Rearing quadruped at the right
At the right edge an animal rears up on its haunches with its forelegs lifted, the powerful hindquarters and raised legs sketched in quick curved strokes. Its energetic pose dominates the right side of the sheet.
Tangle of animal forms
Toward the left and centre several looser forms are knotted together in an agitated mass, their outlines overlapping so that individual creatures are hard to distinguish. The rapid handling conveys violent movement rather than precise anatomy.