Herten in het woud 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing, "Deer in the Woods" with pen in ink. Tavenraat, born in Rotterdam in 1809, lived in a society undergoing significant transformation. The Netherlands was transitioning from a monarchy to a constitutional state, and the art world was shifting away from the rigid academic styles towards more Romantic expressions of nature and national identity. The deer depicted here, stand as symbols deeply rooted in cultural and historical contexts. In European traditions, deer are often associated with nobility, purity, and the wilderness. They can represent the untamed aspects of nature. Tavenraat’s choice of subject matter is a reflection of the Romantic movement's fascination with the natural world. This drawing creates a sense of solitude and introspection, inviting us to contemplate our relationship with the environment. This piece is as much about the emotional experience of encountering these animals in their natural habitat. It’s about how we project our own feelings and understanding onto the world around us.