Loopbrug over een rotsachtige beek Possibly 1858 - 1859

Johannes Tavenraat created this drawing of a footbridge over a rocky stream using graphite and perhaps some wash. The image is presented as a double-page spread from a sketchbook, and this format has a direct impact on how we understand the work. The drawing speaks to Tavenraat’s deep understanding of landscape and structures, and his deftness of hand. The drawing's strength is in its apparent spontaneity, but this belies significant technical discipline and a commitment to observation. In terms of labor, the drawing speaks of a balance between quick, gestural notation and careful attention to detail. The contrast between the sketched graphite and the wash gives a textural quality to the rocks and bridge, emphasizing a tension that is visually compelling. Consider the material properties of the graphite itself. It has a direct connection to the earth, the same as the rocky bridge it depicts. This connection between material, process, and subject is key to understanding the full depth of Tavenraat's vision, and how closely aligned the practice of drawing was to acts of engineering in the 19th century.