Jachthond 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing of a hunting dog with pen and brown ink on paper. The immediacy of the medium is striking. You can see Tavenraat's quick, sure movements across the page. The lines vary in weight and density, creating a sense of volume and texture in the dog's coat. Look closely, and you'll see how the artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up shadows and suggest the contours of the animal's body. The rapid strokes capture the energy and alertness of the hunting dog, a working animal bred and trained for the purposes of the leisure activities, such as hunting, of wealthy landowners in the Netherlands. The choice of pen and ink underscores the practical nature of the drawing itself, perhaps a study done in preparation for a larger painting. This piece reminds us that the tools and techniques of art-making are always connected to broader social and economic contexts. It challenges us to look beyond the surface and consider the labor, class, and cultural values embedded in even the simplest of images.