Reeën bij een gespleten boomstam in het park van Metternich bij Marienbad 1869

Johannes Tavenraat made this watercolor of deer by a split tree trunk in 1869, using paper and delicate washes of color. The layered strokes capture the roughness of the tree bark and the smooth fur of the deer. Rather than using the watercolor to create a highly finished picture, Tavenraat seems to have used the medium to quickly capture a scene he encountered. The thinness of the paint emphasizes the paper's texture, allowing it to contribute to the composition. The result is a sense of immediacy, of being present in the park with the artist. This emphasis on process and direct experience aligns Tavenraat’s practice with a broader shift in the 19th century, where artists increasingly valued observation and experimentation over traditional academic techniques. This artwork is a reminder that the materials and methods artists choose profoundly shape the meaning and impact of their work.