Rustende herten in het woud Possibly 1858

Johannes Tavenraat made this delicate drawing of resting deer in the forest with pen in grey ink and brush in grey and brown ink. The choice of monochrome washes and pen strokes gives the forest scene a soft, dreamlike quality. You can see how the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, creating blurred edges that add to the overall atmosphere. This technique requires control and sensitivity to the material, but is achieved with relatively inexpensive materials. Before the advent of photography, these skills were essential for recording the world, and communicating ideas. Drawings like this one were often made as studies for larger paintings, or as independent works of art. In either case, we can appreciate the artist's mastery of his materials.