Twee hazen 1840 - 1880

This drawing of two hares was made by Johannes Tavenraat, sometime in the 19th century. It’s made with pen and brown ink on paper, quite traditional materials for the time. Notice the ink's fluidity, allowing Tavenraat to capture the hares' dynamism. The quick, confident strokes create a sense of movement. It really shows the artist trying to capture the hares' wildness, perhaps in a moment, reflecting the immediacy of nature. Consider that before photography, artists like Tavenraat played a crucial role in documenting the natural world. But it’s not just a record, it's a handmade object, revealing the artist’s skill, labor and careful observation. The artist engages with traditions of fine art in their capturing of the natural world, but is also reminiscent of the work of craftsmen who create images with the aim of documentation, and communicating knowledge. So, next time you look at a drawing like this, remember it's not just a picture. It's a record of a real encounter, shaped by the artist’s hand and their understanding of the world.