Haas 1840 - 1880

This is Haas, by Johannes Tavenraat, made using pen in ink. At first glance, this may seem like a simple study of an animal, but it invites us to consider broader themes of freedom, survival, and the natural world. Tavenraat was working in a period where depictions of nature became increasingly romanticized. There was rapid industrialization and urbanization, reshaping humanity’s relationship with the environment. The hare, caught mid-leap, symbolizes a desire to escape constraints, mirroring a collective longing for an idealized, untouched wilderness. Yet, this yearning is complex: while the Romantics sought refuge in nature, their vision often overlooked the realities of rural life and the impact of colonialism on the environment. Consider how Tavenraat’s sketch captures both the grace and the vulnerability of the hare, an animal often seen as a symbol of wildness, while also reflecting on our own position within a changing world.