Paarden 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this study of horses with pen in the Netherlands in the 19th century. The artist, who lived from 1809 to 1881, shows the animals with strong outlines that reveal their skeletal structure. The image may have served as a study for a larger painting, or it may have been a work in its own right. Regardless, the image evokes the Netherlands' strong connection to equine animals. Horses were beasts of burden, plowing fields, transporting goods, and providing the basis for travel. By the 19th century, these uses were gradually diminishing due to the industrial revolution. The Rijksmuseum, where this work resides, is an institution that has, since its founding, been involved in solidifying a national cultural identity. Tavenraat's horses speak to this identity, which is rooted in both rural and industrial life. By researching the artist and the cultural role of horses in the Netherlands at the time, we can better understand the meaning of this study.