Oud schaapharder Possibly 1874 - 1875

Johannes Tavenraat created this pen drawing, titled *Oud schaapharder*, meaning Old Shepherd, sometime in the 19th century. The work presents a caricature of an aging rural worker, likely produced for the art market of the time. Tavenraat, working in the Netherlands, came of age in a period of industrial advancement and urbanization. In this context, there was a growing interest in romanticizing the traditional peasant life of the countryside. This interest was expressed through images like this one, which could be interpreted as a nostalgic nod to a disappearing way of life. But is this image also a comment on the social disparities that came about due to industrialization? To learn more, one might consult records of Dutch art markets, exhibition reviews, and writings on Dutch national identity in the 19th century. These resources would provide a more complete understanding of the image's cultural significance.