Plaquette van gips, ontwerp voor een penning: trekpaarden met opschrift SIC VOS NON VOBIS 1876 - 1947

This plaster plaque by Lambertus Zijl shows two horses pulling a cart. I imagine Zijl's hands covered in plaster dust, carefully carving away at the surface, letting the forms emerge bit by bit. The horses are caught mid-stride, their muscles taut, pulling with all their might. You can almost feel the weight of the cart and hear the pounding of their hooves. There is a tension between the calm, cool color and the energetic composition. Look at how the light catches the raised surfaces, creating shadows that define the horses' forms. I wonder what Zijl was thinking as he made this. Was he thinking about the relationship between humans and animals, or the nature of labor itself? The inscription, “SIC VOS NON VOBIS,” adds another layer of mystery. The phrase translates to "Thus, you do not labour for yourselves," perhaps speaking to a history of exploitation. It reminds me of other artists who have explored themes of labor and power. Artists are always in conversation with each other, building upon the ideas of those who came before. There is never one single answer, only the ongoing conversation of art.