Paard in weiland met stoomtrein aan de horizon 1867 - 1874

Jan Mesker made this print of a horse in a meadow with a steam train on the horizon. The image encapsulates the changing world of the Netherlands in the late 19th century. The horse, a traditional symbol of rural life and agricultural labor, stands in the foreground. Yet, in the distance, we see the unmistakable form of a steam train, a symbol of industrial progress and technological advancement. The inclusion of a windmill on the horizon further emphasizes this contrast between old and new. Made during a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization, this print could be seen as a comment on the disruption of traditional ways of life. Was Mesker celebrating progress, or lamenting a loss? To understand this further, we might turn to agricultural records, economic surveys, and other historical documents. Only then we can start to understand how cultural change shapes artistic production and meaning.