Landschap met liggende ossen 1854 - 1868

This is "Landschap met liggende ossen," or "Landscape with lying oxen," by Johannes Tavenraat, made using pen in brown ink and brush in gray and brown ink. Tavenraat lived through a period of significant social and economic change in the Netherlands. The rapid urbanization and industrialization of the 19th century led artists to look back to the rural landscapes and traditions as a source of national identity. The oxen in Tavenraat's sketch represent labor, and an agrarian lifestyle increasingly under threat during the industrial revolution. The sketch emphasizes the animal's mass and form, yet captures a gentle submissiveness which invites empathy. Tavenraat shows us the beauty and dignity of labor. The inscription on the sketch suggests this landscape was located near a brick factory, pointing to the impact of growing industry on the natural landscape. Tavenraat's work invites us to consider the relationship between humans, animals, and the changing landscape during a period of rapid modernization. It's a poignant reminder of the lives and labor that have shaped our environment.