Paarden rennend tussen honden of wolven, met vogels in de lucht 1840 - 1880

Editor: This etching and ink drawing, "Horses Running Between Dogs or Wolves, With Birds in the Sky" by Johannes Tavenraat, seems so full of chaotic energy. The scene is busy, all these animals in motion, but I'm curious about that ambiguity in the title, "dogs or wolves?" What do you see here? Curator: The deliberate choice of "dogs or wolves" is intriguing, isn’t it? Notice how the artist renders these animals; their forms are not clearly defined, inviting us to project our own understanding onto them. This blurring of the lines, dog or wolf, domesticity or wildness, speaks to a tension that permeates much of 19th-century art. Editor: Tension, how so? Curator: Think of the Romantic era’s fascination with the sublime – that intoxicating mix of awe and terror inspired by nature. These "dogs or wolves" chasing the horses might symbolize the untamed forces nipping at the heels of civilization. What do the fleeing horses mean to you? Editor: I hadn’t thought of that! The horses, perhaps representing freedom or even vulnerability. But it also seems so primal. Like a struggle for survival. Curator: Exactly. This piece visually encapsulates a primal narrative, one rooted deep within the human psyche. The image becomes a canvas onto which we project our collective anxieties and aspirations, linking back to our past. The quick strokes and loose rendering enhance this feeling of urgency and timelessness. Do you notice a dream-like quality to this scene? Editor: Yes, it is quite striking! Thank you, that really highlighted how much symbolism can be captured even in such a seemingly simple scene. Curator: It reminds us to question surface appearances, and how to look closer into the historical context embedded within imagery. A single glance isn’t always enough!