Title: Dead Rat Sketch Technique: Drawing (charcoal Conté) Support: 96 g/m² Lana Esquisse paper Dimensions: 41.5 × 29.5 cm Year of completion: 2024 Edition: Unique piece Signature: Signed on the front
This sketch of the dead rat functions as a key piece in the conceptualization of a much more complex painting. Although the inclusion of the rat may seem grotesque at first glance, its presence is not intended to provoke revulsion, but to be part of the larger story that underlies the final work. The rat becomes a symbol rather than just a dead body, serving as a testament to the struggle and anguish experienced by the other women, the man, and the sick child.
Through this study, I see a clear example of how a figure can convey a vast amount of emotions and meanings beyond its immediate appearance. It is a reflection on what lies beneath the surface, on the stories that unfold around what seems trivial. The raw and decisive stroke of the rat reflects an essential part of the creative process, which is completed in the final painting, where the story unfolds more clearly.
