Springend hert 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing of a leaping deer with pen in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-19th century. Such an image may seem simple to us, but the history of animal representation is complex and bound up with issues of class. For centuries in Europe, hunting was the preserve of the aristocracy and the depiction of deer in art was associated with wealth and power. By the 19th century, however, these images were becoming more widespread. What does this tell us about the changing social structure? Was Tavenraat perhaps commenting on the democratization of imagery, or the decline of the old aristocracy? To know more, we need to dig deeper into the social and institutional history. Research into the artist, the context of the work, and the cultural meanings of animal imagery would all help us better understand its significance.