Hert 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat created this drawing of a deer with pen in the nineteenth century. The stag, with its strong antlers and spirited stance, has long been a symbol of virility, nature, and the hunt. Consider the mythical stag of Artemis, a sacred animal, or the stag's prominent role in medieval hunting scenes. Note the collar around the deer's neck; it appears domesticated, and is therefore an emblem of nature tamed. We see echoes of this motif across cultures, such as the Celtic Cernunnos, a god often depicted with antlers, representing the untamed wilderness brought into human understanding. This taming, however, brings about deep tensions. The deer embodies both freedom and constraint, mirroring our own internal struggles with instinct and civilization.