Henk van de Berg op zijn paard Bobbie voor de schuur c. 1896

This image captures Henk van de Berg mounted on his horse, Bobbie, posed before a barn, a seemingly simple snapshot imbued with complex cultural symbolism. The horse, since antiquity, has been a symbol of power, virility, and nobility. Consider the equestrian statues of Roman emperors or Renaissance princes; the rider isn't merely seated, but elevated, embodying dominion. Here, the stiff posture of both man and beast evokes a sense of control. Yet, the controlled stance of the pair is juxtaposed against the domestic backdrop of the barn, adding a layer of pastoral simplicity. The barn, a symbol of agrarian life, speaks to deeper themes of sustenance and survival. This pairing reflects a tension between man's mastery over nature and his connection to it. As we move through history, we see this motif recur, morphing from symbols of martial power into emblems of landed gentry and the symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural world, a testament to how symbols evolve.