Hoofd van een paard, naar rechts 1819 - 1881

Curator: This is "Head of a Horse, Facing Right" by Johannes Tavenraat, dating from sometime between 1819 and 1881. It's a pencil drawing currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: There's a stark vulnerability in this sketch. The muted tones and unfinished quality evoke a sense of quiet contemplation. Curator: I see that vulnerability too. Horses often symbolize freedom, power, but also servitude, especially when wearing a bridle, as this one is. Think of its long association with the military and agricultural labor. It reminds us that domestication carries a price. Editor: Absolutely, and look how Tavenraat captures the light reflecting in the horse’s eye. The detail there, contrasted with the more suggestive rendering of the mane, guides the viewer’s gaze directly to its expression. The interplay of shadow and highlight really does create a compelling focus on the animal’s sentience. Curator: Consider the gaze, its directed downward, slightly askance – a familiar posture in portraiture signifying humility or reflection. Tavenraat has subtly imbued this animal with recognizable human qualities, encouraging our empathy. It reminds us that animals also have a deep inner life. Editor: The very materiality is interesting. The choice of pencil—so immediate and accessible—underscores this idea of observation and understanding. We're seeing the artist's process, the gradual revealing of the horse's form through delicate lines and shading. Curator: Tavenraat was clearly skilled in the academic style, using realism to capture details, but I’m also drawn to what’s not there. The absence of a background invites our imagination to fill the space. What is this horse thinking about? Is it at rest? Waiting for instruction? The possibilities are rich. Editor: For me, this piece speaks to the enduring power of drawing as a means of connecting with the world, inviting us to contemplate our relationship with nature, our assumptions about it, through pure form. Curator: Yes, Tavenraat urges us to think of horses beyond mere utility. We see in their eyes, perhaps a mirror of ourselves.