Studieblad, onder andere met een ploegend paard, herten en een mannenkop 1840 - 1868

This is Johannes Tavenraat’s “Studieblad, onder andere met een ploegend paard, herten en een mannenkop,” or Study Sheet, featuring, among other things, a plowing horse, deer, and a man’s head. Tavenraat created this work in the 19th century, a time when the Netherlands was experiencing a resurgence of national identity. Born in Rotterdam, Tavenraat lived through the period of French annexation and the subsequent establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was a time of cultural and political redefinition, reflected in the art world by a renewed interest in Dutch landscapes, folklore, and the everyday lives of its people. In this study sheet, Tavenraat seems to capture the essence of rural life, combining images of labor, nature, and perhaps contemplation. The animals and the man’s head may represent a deep connection to the land and an idealized vision of Dutch identity rooted in its agrarian traditions. The drawing invites us to consider the relationship between humanity and the natural world, and the quiet dignity of everyday life.