Rennende jachthonden 1819 - 1881

Editor: Here we have "Running Hunting Dogs" by Johannes Tavenraat, created sometime between 1819 and 1881. It's an ink drawing on paper. I find the rendering of movement really striking, it is really dynamic. What do you make of it? Curator: The choice of ink on paper is interesting here. Consider how this specific medium affects our perception. Ink, a readily available material, emphasizes the accessibility of art production in the 19th century. Was this a study? Was it a sketch? The use of an inexpensive and accessible medium might indicate this was meant to be a quick study and then abandoned by the artist. Editor: I never thought about ink as an "accessible" medium, but that’s true, it's not oil paint or marble. How does that relate to the subject matter? Curator: Hunting scenes were popular among the aristocracy, of course. But the raw quality of the ink lines and the almost disposable nature of paper challenges the idea of refined art made for an exclusive audience. This could point towards the professionalization of the art industry; images were increasingly made for popular consumption, which involved reproduction, commercialization and lower costs. Editor: So, it’s about the industrialization of art, in a way? The making of art wasn't just about some intrinsic quality, but about the material conditions that make it possible, who is making it, and how they are making it. Curator: Exactly. Looking at the labor involved, the materiality of the medium, and its potential for consumption, changes how we value this drawing. Editor: This completely shifts my perspective; I now see the drawing as evidence of evolving social structures around art and the labor of its production. Thank you!