Haas 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this ink drawing, titled 'Haas' – which simply means 'Hare' in Dutch – at an unknown date. The 19th century saw an intense interest in the natural world, often idealized and romanticized. Tavenraat’s hare, however, avoids such sentimentalism. It is a raw, immediate sketch that captures the animal's vulnerability. We see the hare crouched low, its body tense, ready to flee. The hasty, scratchy lines convey a sense of urgency and unease. Consider the historical context: the rapid urbanization and industrialization were disrupting traditional rural life. Perhaps Tavenraat’s drawing reflects a deeper anxiety about the loss of the natural world, of innocence, in the face of relentless progress. The sketch is small, intimate, almost furtive – a fleeting glimpse of a creature caught between worlds.