Rennend hert 1819 - 1881

Johannes Tavenraat sketched this 'Running Deer' with pen in brown on paper, sometime in the 19th century. During this time, depictions of animals, especially those of the hunt, were extremely popular, reinforcing the power and status of the aristocracy who often commissioned these works. But look closer, Tavenraat's deer isn't posed heroically or captured mid-hunt; instead, it is caught in a moment of pure, unbridled flight. There's a rawness to the sketch, a sense of the animal's desperation and instinct for survival. The deer becomes a symbol of resistance against the constraints of its time. Tavenraat masterfully plays with light and shadow to emphasize the deer's muscular form, highlighting its strength and agility. This drawing captures a fleeting moment of freedom and the raw, untamed spirit of the natural world. It offers a glimpse into a world where nature resists being tamed, a sentiment that resonates even today.