Twee studies van een paard 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this study of two horses using pen in brown and brush in gray, on blue paper. Tavenraat lived through a tumultuous period in European history, witnessing the rise and fall of Napoleon, and the social transformations of the Industrial Revolution. During the 19th century, the horse was not only an essential animal for transportation, agriculture, and warfare but also a potent symbol of power, freedom, and virility. The way Tavenraat captures the animal in motion, full of muscular tension, lends it a masculine aesthetic, emblematic of the era's fascination with strength and dynamism. The use of quick, expressive lines conveys a sense of immediacy, as if he is trying to capture the fleeting essence of these creatures. This piece invites us to reflect on the shifting roles and representations of animals in society, and how they mirror our own values and aspirations.