Schouman Aert Mole and snail Sun Aert Schouman

The drawing presents a curious juxtaposition of three creatures: a mole, a grasshopper, and a salamander. The composition is deliberately simple; the animals are arranged against a plain, light-colored background that lacks any discernible spatial cues or landscape elements. This emptiness serves to isolate each creature, directing the viewer’s attention solely to their individual forms and characteristics.
The mole occupies the central position, rendered with careful attention to its velvety fur and characteristic lack of visible eyes. Its posture suggests a moment of pause, perhaps emerging from or retreating into the earth. The artist has captured the texture of the animals coat through subtle variations in tone and brushstroke, lending it a sense of weight and solidity.
To the left, a grasshopper is depicted with an emphasis on its segmented body and delicate antennae. Its coloration – a mix of browns and blacks – is rendered with precision, highlighting the intricate patterns that define its exoskeleton. The insect appears to be in motion, suggesting a fleeting moment captured in time.
The salamander, positioned at the lower left corner, displays a mottled pattern of dark spots against a lighter background. Its elongated body is presented diagonally across the frame, creating a sense of dynamism and movement. The artist’s use of watercolor allows for a translucent quality to the creatures skin, hinting at its amphibious nature.
The subtexts within this drawing are open to interpretation. The disparate nature of the subjects – a subterranean mammal, an insect associated with sunlight and vegetation, and an amphibian dwelling in both water and land – suggests a contemplation on different modes of existence and adaptation. The mole’s blindness could be interpreted as symbolic of ignorance or a life lived outside of conventional perception. Conversely, the grasshoppers exposure to light might represent knowledge or experience. The salamander, existing between realms, may symbolize transition or duality.
The absence of context – no landscape, no narrative – further encourages viewers to consider these individual creatures not as elements within a larger scene, but as symbols in their own right. The drawing seems less concerned with naturalistic representation and more focused on exploring the symbolic potential inherent in the animal kingdom.