Hazen Possibly 1870

Johannes Tavenraat sketched this drawing, titled Hazen, with pen in brown and brush in brown ink on paper in 1872. Tavenraat, a Dutch artist born in Rotterdam, lived through the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The drawing appears as a study, possibly a sketch from life. With an emotional immediacy, the collection of sketches captures various angles of a hare, with close attention to its features. The hare, often a symbol of vulnerability and prey, is presented in a manner that invites empathy, rather than portraying it as a mere object of hunting or observation. The rapid lines suggest a moment captured in time, giving us insight into the artist’s view of the animal’s character. Tavenraat shares an intimate glimpse into the quiet existence of a wild creature. In its depiction, he offers a moment to reflect on our relationship with the natural world, inviting us to consider our impact on its fragile inhabitants.