Landschap c. 1839 - 1872

Johannes Tavenraat made this landscape sketch, whose date is unknown, using graphite on paper. Tavenraat produced the image in the Netherlands, where landscape painting held a prominent position in the 19th century art world. It is interesting that the image features handwritten notes in Dutch, which suggest it may have been a preliminary study. The study itself demonstrates how the artist thought about the process of observation and representation. Tavenraat was trying to transcribe the landscape using codes, which has resulted in a tension between what he saw and how he was thinking about the landscape. Examining Tavenraat's sketch encourages us to explore the cultural values associated with landscape art in the Netherlands. Researching how the Dutch landscape painting developed within specific social and institutional settings can reveal a lot about the artwork. Furthermore, studying Tavenraat's sketch highlights the role of art historians in interpreting the artist’s intentions, while considering how such intentions are contingent on social and institutional context.