Koeien en een gezadeld paard 1839 - 1872

Johannes Tavenraat made this pencil drawing, “Cows and a Saddled Horse,” sometime in the mid-19th century. Tavenraat lived during a period of great social change in the Netherlands, as the country shifted from an agrarian society to a more industrialized one. His sketch evokes a sense of rural tranquility, and may reflect a nostalgic view of the Dutch countryside as it was being transformed by urbanization and modernization. The choice of subject matter, cows and a horse, is also interesting. In 19th-century Dutch art, farm animals were often used as symbols of national identity and pride, reflecting the importance of agriculture to the Dutch economy and culture. By depicting these animals in a simple, unassuming manner, Tavenraat may be making a statement about the value of hard work and self-reliance. To fully understand this drawing, we might consult agricultural reports from the period, or study the policies of the Rijksmuseum, to give us further insight into the social and institutional context in which it was made.