Mannenkoppen, een paard en een landschap met figuren c. 1839 - 1872

Johannes Tavenraat sketched 'Heads of Men, a Horse, and a Landscape with Figures' with pen in the early 19th century. Notice the horse rearing up, a motif that gallops through art history from the equestrian statues of Roman emperors to Delacroix's romantic visions. Here, it's stripped down, almost primal. The rearing horse symbolizes power, control, and the untamed spirit. The heads, some serene, others contorted, remind us of classical busts, yet here they are raw studies, capturing fleeting expressions. Consider the recurring human figures: they're not just bodies, they're echoes of gestures and poses from centuries past. A figure on his knees, head bowed, brings to mind acts of supplication seen across eras and cultures, from religious contexts to displays of submission or reverence. This pose is deeply rooted in our collective memory, triggering subconscious associations with humility and vulnerability. These images engage on a primal level, reflecting the cyclical, non-linear passage of cultural symbols.