Young Deer 

Rik Wouters made this delicate sketch of a Young Deer in Belgium, likely in the early 20th century. Wouters's artistic circle was part of a broader European movement that sought to challenge the conservative artistic norms of the time, and this sketch, with its apparent simplicity, is an example of that. The sketch also makes use of the cultural associations of deer, which often represent innocence, purity, and connection to nature. The artist's choice of subject matter and style can be read as a critique of the industrialization and urbanization that were rapidly transforming European society at the time. By depicting a young deer in such a simple and direct manner, Wouters seems to be suggesting a return to a more innocent and natural state of being. Understanding Wouters's intentions requires an understanding of the social and artistic context in which he was working. The history of art is inseparable from the history of ideas, and the historian's role is to uncover the connections between them.