Staand paard 1624 - 1700

This is Jan van Aken's etching titled "Standing Horse." The etching captivates us with its contrasting textures and forms. The standing horse dominates the composition, its form built up through tightly packed, directional lines that model its musculature. These hatch marks create a tactile density that contrasts with the smoother, more open areas of the background. Van Aken's work invites us to consider the interplay between representation and materiality. The graphic language of etching becomes a means of not just depicting, but also embodying the subject. The horse, a symbol often associated with power and vitality, is here rendered through a network of lines, suggesting a deeper, more complex reading of its form. The artwork challenges fixed meanings. Instead, it is an ongoing interpretation, inviting the viewer to engage with its aesthetic and cultural implications.