J. H. W. Tischbein
German, 1751–1829
Three Beavers Building a Dam
INV-1864
J. H. W. Tischbein
German, 1751–1829c. 1800
Three Beavers Building a Dam
J. H. W. Tischbein German, 1751–1829 →prints and drawingchalk
Date
c. 1800
Medium
Watercolor, pen and brown ink, and touches of black chalk, on cream laid paper, laid down on ivory laid paper, with a pieced overlapping border toned with brown watercolor
Dimensions
Primary support: 32.5 × 40.2 cm (12 13/16 × 15 7/8 in.); Sheet with border: 40.5 × 47.9 cm (16 × 18 7/8 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Dorothy Braude Edinburg to the Harry B. and Bessie K. Braude Memorial Collection
Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein experimented with animal physiognomy in many drawings. Inspired by the Swiss philosopher Johann Kaspar Lavater, the artist believed a person’s character depended on the animal he resembled. As Tischbein wrote in 1796, “I have undertaken another [series of drawings] in order to learn more about man. To make this study easier it is necessary to begin with beasts, since they are easier and their characters more evident.” Traditionally busy animals, these furry beavers exhibit human expressions as they focus diligently on the difficult task of stemming an exuberant waterfall.
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