Karikaturen 1840 - 1880

This caricature sheet was drawn in pen and brown ink by Johannes Tavenraat. He was active in the first half of the 19th century when the Netherlands was undergoing significant political and social change. The images include a variety of character studies, some with exaggerated features, perhaps commenting on the social types of the time. The figures appear to be predominantly male, with some dressed in what could be interpreted as bourgeois attire, while others are more grotesque. The exaggerated features and satirical tone could reflect societal tensions, as the artist perhaps questioned the rigid social structures. The artist also jotted down numerical annotations that are scattered around the sheet. What do you think they refer to? The sketch offers us a glimpse into the artist’s critical view of his contemporary society, and how the personal intersects with the political through satire and caricature.