Zwaluw bij een boom 1854 - 1868

This sketch of a swallow by a tree was made in the Netherlands by Johannes Tavenraat, probably sometime in the mid-19th century. The Rijksmuseum acquired the drawing much later, giving it new life as an object of historical and artistic interest. But the sketch itself may have been made "in the field", or at least not in a formal studio setting. This brings up the question: what was the role of informal drawings and sketches in the institutionalized art world of the Netherlands at the time? This was the period of the Hague School, which sought a more naturalistic style of painting than the art academies encouraged. Was Tavenraat part of that movement, and was this a preliminary sketch for a larger work? An art historian might look into the archives of the Rijksakademie to find out more, and to understand better how informal art practices intersect with formal institutions.