Hoofd van een paard, naar links 1819 - 1881

Johannes Tavenraat made this study of a horse's head, sometime in the 19th century, using graphite on paper. It’s a humble combination of materials, but that doesn't mean it isn't sophisticated. The artist coaxes a full range of tones from the graphite, from almost imperceptible light grays to the solid dark shading that models the horse’s eye, nostril, and mouth. Look closely, and you can see the texture of the paper coming through. This is a deliberate choice, not a defect. Tavenraat is using the paper to enhance the image. In fact, the drawing is a kind of performance. It shows off the artist’s skill, and by extension, the value of academic training. At the time, there was a booming market for technically accomplished drawings like this, prized for their attention to detail. It’s no accident that the artist chose to depict a horse, a traditional symbol of wealth and status, as the subject of his art. This modest drawing, therefore, speaks volumes about the social and economic context in which it was made.