Kippen, dragers en koppen 1840 - 1880

Here we see a drawing made by Johannes Tavenraat, featuring carriers and heads. The quick, light lines forming these sketches create a sense of movement and impermanence, typical of studies done in preparation for larger works. Looking closely, we notice how Tavenraat uses hatching and cross-hatching to define form and shadow. The figures, though simply rendered, have a weight and presence, emphasized by the contrast between the detailed faces and the more gestural bodies. The arrangement of the sketches across the sheet isn't random; they seem to converse with each other, each pose and expression reflecting on the other. This drawing destabilizes our expectation of a finished, polished artwork. Instead, Tavenraat offers us a glimpse into his artistic process, revealing how the artwork, even in its most rudimentary form, can convey a powerful sense of human expression and the dynamics of labor.