Carel de Nerée tot Babberich - Rabbit

Carel de Nerée tot Babberich (1880–1909)

Rabbit

1901–03

Signed and annotated verso

Pencil on paper

9 × 18 cm

Literature:

Illustrated in Sander Bink, Verfijnde Lijnen: Carel de Nerée tot Babberich, 1880–1909, WBOOKS, 2025, p. 312, cat. no. 326.

Additional information:

This is a somewhat atypical drawing. Carel de Nerée had a strong interest in the decorative arts. He created dozens of designs for mirrors, vases, tiles and other objects. As far as is known, none of these designs were ever produced. Almost all of the drawings have been lost.

The few surviving designs feature animal motifs, including Raven in the Rijksprentenkabinet in Amsterdam and Owl in Museum Arnhem.

Carel de Nerée tot Babberich (1880–1909) was one of the most intriguing Dutch Symbolists of his generation. Well versed in literature and active within The Hague’s society, he developed a highly refined visual language influenced by Aubrey Beardsley and Jan Toorop. His work is characterised by graphic elegance and subtle decadence.