Kop van een rund, naar links 1855 - 1930

Dirk Arnoldus Tavenraat rendered this 'Head of a Cow, facing Left’ with pen in grey ink on paper. Note how the artist created a play of light and shadow using hatching and cross-hatching. The varying densities and directions of these fine lines across the head and neck of the animal construct form and volume. The marks create an illusion of texture, from the smooth curve of the horn to the denser areas of the neck. The composition is stark, with the subject isolated against the blank background. This directs our attention to the formal qualities of Tavenraat’s linework and tonal gradations. The drawing provides an insight into the artist’s understanding of form and structure. The semiotic system of signs is apparent in the cross-hatching. This technique informs the artwork's making and reception. This approach offers a way to appreciate the drawing as a study of form and technique and an engagement with established artistic conventions.