Hond (fragment) 1840 - 1880

Curator: Here we have “Hond (fragment),” an ink drawing on paper from between 1840 and 1880, attributed to Johannes Tavenraat. What strikes you first about it? Editor: A curious sense of ethereality. It’s just a fragment, as the title suggests, a fleeting vision of a dog rendered in delicate lines, almost dissolving into the paper. I'm curious about the material reality of this kind of drawing... Curator: It's intriguing, isn’t it? The loose sketch-like quality feels intimate, like a glimpse into the artist's personal sketchbook. Imagine Tavenraat, perhaps during a quiet moment, capturing this creature with just a few strokes of his pen. There is almost a dreamlike state to it. Editor: Exactly, a dog made of paper and ink. How does Tavenraat use readily available material like ink and paper to make us think about the complex labor behind manufacturing even simple materials like that? The paper, its weight and texture, all influence how we perceive the final artwork and is part of that everyday circulation. Curator: And there's something so appealing in that vulnerability of the sketch. He isn’t trying to create some polished, finished artwork. It feels like a raw, authentic expression, flaws and all, don't you think? Editor: Yes, and consider also the reproduction of such drawings; turning them into printed images reduces this quality into a saleable product for consumption. A copy removes it further from the moment when that quick line captured an animal presence. Curator: This makes me wonder whether the intention here might have been that initial capturing, rather than necessarily a grand statement...Perhaps it reflects our relationship with the subject and our relationship with animals in domestic spaces as companions. Editor: I think, however, focusing on materiality grounds that romantic view: these 'simple' drawings hide labour relationships, commercial choices, and their afterlives that extend well beyond the artist’s initial creative spark. It goes beyond just looking. Curator: True. Material considerations really widen how to see it all. Well, it’s always good to have more than one approach in looking at art, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely. Looking closely brings layers. It goes beyond just looking.