ROCHETTE

JEAN-MARC ROCHETTE LA DERNIÈRE REINE, Casterman 2022 Original plate no. 108 preparatory stage in India ink and wash. Signed. India ink and graphite on paper 29.6 × 42 cm (11.65 × 16.54 in.) Preparatory stage: 29.5 × 40.2 cm Édouard and Jeanne are lying in wait behind a log in the heart of an old-growth forest in the Vercors. An ideal vantage point for observing the local fauna: foxes, wild boars, wild boar. Wide views, close-ups: perfectly symmetrical, the composition gives a cinematic impression. The scene relies heavily on the exchange of glances between the various protagonists, both human and animal, field and counter-field. The animals show themselves because they know that Édouard is part of the family, part of the natural tribe, and that curiosity is not just a human prerogative. Stalking is an amazing activity, rich in sensations, which I've been practicing for some time. J.-M.R.