Studie van een trekpaard 1841

"Studie van een trekpaard" (Study of a Draft Horse), is a pen and ink drawing by Dutch artist Johannes Tavenraat. The drawing, located in the Rijksmuseum, captures a draft horse in profile, in a quick, gestural style characteristic of Tavenraat's work. The artist's focus on the horse's musculature and movement highlights the importance of horses in 19th-century Dutch society, often employed for transportation and farm work. The drawing's small size, measuring only 152 mm by 137 mm, further emphasizes its role as a rapid study. The inscription below the drawing dates it to April 1841 and indicates that it was done "any bords de la Ley," likely a location or a reference to the artist's travels.