Wandelaar, honden, vogels en een brug in Park Angerenstein te Arnhem 1833

This graphite drawing on paper, "Wandelaar, honden, vogels en een brug in Park Angerenstein te Arnhem," was made by Johannes Tavenraat around 1833. It depicts a figure walking with dogs and birds in the Angerenstein Park. The drawing invites us to consider the changing role of public spaces in the Netherlands during the 19th century. Parks like Angerenstein were not simply natural landscapes, but carefully designed spaces reflecting social and cultural values. The figure's attire and leisurely activity suggest a certain social class, highlighting the park as a space for the well-to-do. The presence of dogs and birds hints at hunting, a popular pastime among the elite. To fully understand this work, we might explore estate archives and period publications relating to the Angerenstein Park and the leisure activities of the Dutch upper class. This will shed light on how art reflects social practices and the use of public spaces in 19th-century Netherlands.