Twee schapen en drie lammeren 1819 - 1881

Editor: Here we have "Two Sheep and Three Lambs," attributed to Johannes Tavenraat, dating sometime between 1819 and 1881. It’s an ink drawing; quite a simple sketch really. I am struck by how the very direct, unrefined use of ink communicates something about the relationship between humans and animal labor... What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: It's intriguing to consider this piece within the context of 19th-century agrarian life. Notice how Tavenraat has used basic pen and ink. This suggests both an efficiency of production and perhaps a reflection of the artist’s available resources. How might the consumption of images like these have differed between urban and rural audiences? Editor: That's interesting. It seems like an image like this might appeal to both; perhaps urban viewers see a romanticized ideal of country life. Could it also reflect broader trends in Dutch society regarding agriculture and the wool trade during that era? Curator: Precisely! Consider the relationship between the production of wool, the economic systems that depended on it, and the artist's own labor in creating this image. Do you see a parallel between the labor of the sheep and the labor of the artist? The materiality of the ink and paper – what do they tell us? Editor: I see what you mean. The rawness of the sketch, the clear depiction of the sheep – it does seem to align with a sort of "honest" representation of labor. It prompts thoughts about the socio-economic context of the time and how that influenced artistic choices. Curator: Exactly. It's a potent reminder that art isn't created in a vacuum. Editor: I will certainly think about art through this new materialist lens going forward! Thanks for opening my eyes.