Rokende jager met honden 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this pencil drawing titled 'Smoking Hunter with Dogs' in the Netherlands, sometime in the 19th century. It offers a glimpse into the social rituals and class distinctions of the time. The image depicts a hunter, identifiable by his rifle and dogs, in a moment of leisure, smoking a pipe. Hunting in 19th century Netherlands was not merely a means of subsistence but a recreational activity heavily associated with the upper classes. The hunter's attire, complete with a top hat, further suggests his social standing. The dogs, breeds specifically trained for hunting, are visual markers of the man’s wealth. The sketch is simple, yet the class and social implications are clearly visible. To understand this work more fully, one might explore historical records of hunting practices, social class, and leisure activities in the 19th century Netherlands, found in archives, historical societies, and museum collections. Art, then, is never created in a vacuum, but always in response to social and institutional contexts.