Schetsen van landschap en vogels 1840 - 1870

Dirk Arnoldus Tavenraat made this sketch of landscapes and birds in the Netherlands sometime between 1860 and 1930. It’s a quick study of quintessentially Dutch scenes rendered in graphite on paper. But what is the public role of such an intimate drawing? From a social and cultural perspective, it shows us the values of the Dutch middle class at the turn of the century. Holland was one of the first countries to establish a bourgeois republic, and by the 19th century, the Dutch bourgeoisie had developed a powerful sense of itself. The drawing demonstrates a conservative taste for landscape, and for the kind of picturesque imagery that can be found in tourist guides. We can also see the rising interest in ornithology, the study of birds. To understand such a drawing, we can consult documents from Tavenraat’s life, as well as publications about the cultural history of the Netherlands. Art is contingent on social and institutional contexts.