Man leunend op een wandelstok en een vrouw in een mantel een kap Possibly 1840 - 1848

Johannes Tavenraat made this watercolor and pencil drawing of people in Dutch traditional costume in 1840. Here, the materials are humble: paper, graphite, and watercolor. There’s a wonderful immediacy to the way Tavenraat has used these materials, rapidly capturing the essence of the figures. This speaks to the artwork’s purpose: not as a finished display piece, but more like field notes taken by an ethnographer. He uses the paper as a repository for his observations, even adding handwritten descriptions and notes. What elevates this drawing is Tavenraat’s attentiveness and empathy. He records not only the specifics of dress but also the posture, the body language, and the way the light falls. The colors of the watercolor create depth and realism, while the pencil sketches capture the details of the clothing. This is not just a rendering of fabric; it's a record of human experience. These “quick studies” draw our attention to clothing and the history of labor; they are a way to recognize the art in everyday life.