Eenden op het water, een rennende haas en mannenkoppen 1864 - 1868

This sketchbook page, made in 1864 by Johannes Tavenraat, captures a fleeting array of images in pen and ink, including ducks, a running hare, and studies of male heads. The hare, darting across the page, embodies a primal symbol of agility and vulnerability. The motif of the hare has ancient roots, appearing in various cultures as a symbol of fertility, speed, and transformation. Think of its appearance in classical antiquity alongside Venus, the goddess of love, or its later role in folklore as a trickster figure. The image of the hare can be traced through the ages, morphing from a symbol of abundance to one of cunning survival. Here, the hare seems to be fleeing, perhaps from an unseen predator, evoking feelings of anxiety and the instinct for self-preservation that connects us to the natural world. This sketch is an expression of a deep, subconscious connection between man and nature. Through the cyclical return and transformation of these symbols, we find echoes of our shared human experience.