Kop van een hond 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat drew this 'Head of a Dog' with pen and watercolor on paper some time in the 19th century. In the Netherlands at this time, a prosperous middle class had emerged with its own set of values and pastimes, and the rise of companion animals was among them. Dogs moved from farm to hearth, and were increasingly regarded as part of the family. This sketch, now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, is an intimate portrayal of one of these animals. Note how the artist uses the graphic qualities of line and shading to describe the dog’s soft fur and tender expression. We might wonder if this was a beloved family pet, and what role this image may have played in the owner’s life. To better understand the social history behind works like this, scholars rely on sources such as pet-keeping manuals and breed standards, which help to give insight into the cultural meanings of our relationships with animals.