A Standing Horse, Facing Right 1590

Curator: Antonio Tempesta, born in 1555, crafted this etching, "A Standing Horse, Facing Right." There’s a striking interplay between the meticulously rendered animal and the landscape. Editor: The etching strikes me as quite melancholic, despite the animal's robust form. The horse appears burdened, almost weighed down by the heavy cross-hatching. Curator: The horse embodies strength, but its pose—almost hesitant—speaks to the complex relationship between power and subjugation, reflecting the socio-political role horses played. Consider their use in warfare and agriculture. Editor: And how the material conditions of the printmaking process itself contribute to this reading. Tempesta's labor-intensive technique, the copper plate, the etching acid—all create this very specific texture that amplifies the weight you mentioned. Curator: Exactly. Even the Latin inscription touches upon themes of labor and leisure, tying it back to the social hierarchy of the time. It underscores the cultural value placed on the animal and its place within that structure. Editor: That's insightful. Seeing it as a product of its material and social context really deepens the reading of this single, standing horse.