Paard en os bij een ploeg after 1854

This drawing of a horse and ox pulling a plough was made by Johannes Tavenraat in the 19th century, using graphite on paper. The artist has captured a scene of agricultural labor, where the animals’ muscular forms are rendered with thin, expressive lines. The quick, sketch-like quality of the drawing gives a sense of immediacy, as though Tavenraat was capturing a fleeting moment in the fields. The humble materials—paper and pencil—belie the significance of the scene depicted: the essential labor of farming that underpinned society at the time. There’s a directness and honesty in Tavenraat’s approach, elevating the everyday into the realm of art. This work encourages us to consider the value of labor, the beauty of simple tools, and the connection between humans, animals, and the land. It challenges us to see the artistry in the ordinary, blurring the lines between fine art and the crafts of everyday life.