Paar geschoten hazen Possibly 1869

Editor: This is "Paar geschoten hazen," or "Pair of Shot Hares," possibly from 1869, a pencil drawing by Johannes Tavenraat. It feels stark somehow, very immediate. What stands out to you from a formal perspective? Curator: The composition is notable. Tavenraat has arranged the hares in a way that emphasizes their stillness, almost as if staging a morbid still life. Note the economy of line. What semiotic operations can you derive? Editor: Well, the texture of the fur is created with such short, sharp strokes that I get a sense of volume. There’s something compelling in the way the artist created definition with so few lines. Are there many preparatory works with these features? Curator: Observe the handling of light and shadow. The stark contrast enhances the almost sculptural form of the hares, grounding them in a reality that transcends the merely representational. Have you thought about negative space? Editor: The space around them is plain. Was this a standard presentation at the time, or did it function as an artistic expression? Curator: It pushes the focus entirely onto the form and tonal variations within the subjects themselves. Think about this in contrast to contemporaneous landscape works. Editor: That’s a very good point! Seeing how little else there is makes you think more about the work done to form the figures of the hares. Curator: Indeed. This work operates under the tenets of high realism, relying not on contextual elements, but rather focusing the piece entirely on the aesthetic properties within. Editor: That makes a lot of sense. Thank you. I see the artwork in an entirely new way now.