Vervolg van een verhaal over Tavenraats overleden hond Ali 1871

This is a handwritten note, made by Johannes Tavenraat, a Dutch artist, likely in the mid-19th century. While seemingly simple, this intimate document opens a window into the social and emotional lives of people during that time. The note details the demise of a dog named Ali, picked up on the street and cared for, but ultimately succumbing to illness. The handwriting itself is a visual code, indicative of the writer's social standing and education. Such personal accounts, though seemingly trivial, offer a glimpse into the relationship between humans and animals, as well as the prevailing attitudes towards care and compassion in 19th century Netherlands. As an art historian, I’m interested in how institutions like the Rijksmuseum, where this note resides, shape our understanding of the past. Further research into Tavenraat's life and the social history of pet ownership in the Netherlands would undoubtedly enrich our understanding of this poignant little note. Ultimately, art, in all its forms, reflects the values and structures of its time.