Op drijfjacht 1830 - 1860

Johannes Tavenraat painted ‘Op drijfjacht’ with oil on panel sometime in the mid-19th century. Here, deep in the forest, two figures are nestled between the trees along with their dogs. ‘Op drijfjacht’, meaning ‘driven hunt’, shows a popular activity for the upper classes in the Netherlands at this time. This small panel depicts not just a scene, but a social ritual. The 19th century saw an increasing sense of national identity in the Netherlands, and artists played a role in defining what it meant to be Dutch. Landscapes, like this one, became popular as symbols of the nation. Looking at the cultural and economic context, we know that hunting was often associated with wealth and privilege. Tavenraat here captures a moment of leisure, framed by the majesty of the Dutch landscape. To fully understand this work, it’s helpful to look at similar landscape paintings, hunting records, and even literature from the period. In doing so, we can appreciate how Tavenraat's painting reflects and shapes the cultural values of his time.