Wijzende man op galloperend paard c. 1965 - 1980

Curator: The “Wijzende man op galloperend paard,” or “Pointing Man on Galloping Horse,” by Aat Verhoog, invites us into its delicately engraved world. The Rijksmuseum holds this work, likely crafted between 1965 and 1980, using pen and engraving techniques. Editor: My initial reaction is of controlled chaos! There's a distinct energy radiating from the horse's posture. But also, you can see, up close, how precise Verhoog's line work is. You get a feel of how much deliberate labor went into making this print. Curator: Indeed. The engraving brings to mind historical etchings—a sense of cultural memory. A lone rider on a horse always sparks certain associations: a messenger, a conqueror, or even a personification of freedom. What symbolic echoes do you perceive in the work? Editor: What strikes me most is the process: the incising of the plate, the application of ink, and the final act of printing. Think of the physicality involved. That texture comes from the material itself—the paper. These choices affect its reception; what associations does the physical image itself conjure? Curator: Perhaps it alludes to the legacy of printmaking. How its accessibility aided revolutions in thought. Here, a man quite literally points to new horizons. The image invites a pondering on our personal and shared trajectories. Editor: Considering this image's date range—post-war Holland—I wonder if the imagery served as a method to confront those anxieties? Curator: Possibly. It can be difficult to disentangle the intended meaning from our own projections as viewers. That is partially the magic of iconography. Editor: Magic born of material realities, no? The ink, the paper, the etched line - they contribute in real ways to any interpretation of the image. Curator: Yes, there is something grounding and authentic in this medium. Editor: Definitely! That it demands this physicality really grounds what otherwise would remain ephemeral and intangible!