Haas 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing, ‘Haas’, with pen in grey-brown ink, brush in grey-brown ink, and grey wash. The subject, a hare bounding through long grass, seems simple enough. Yet, the hare was a common symbol in 19th-century Dutch art, and the Rijksmuseum, where this work is housed, has a long history of promoting national identity through art. Made in the Netherlands, this work shows us the kind of subject matter favoured during the Dutch Golden Age. This period of Dutch history celebrated the country's landscape, people, and wildlife. Here, the artist emphasizes its vitality. Through sensitive depiction, Tavenraat elevates an ordinary animal to a symbol of Dutch pride. To understand this work better, we might look to the artist's other studies of animals and his broader artistic output. Understanding the cultural and institutional context in which art is made helps to uncover hidden meanings and appreciate its social significance.