Plate XI 18th-19th century

Curator: Jacques-Francois-Joseph Swebach's Plate XI presents a rider astride two horses, accompanied by a dog in an open landscape. The simplicity of the line work is striking. Editor: It evokes a sense of control, a display of power over nature and these animals. The rider looks so relaxed, almost nonchalant, on these two straining horses. Curator: It's interesting to consider how the image participates in equestrian portraiture traditions, but with a twist. The doubled horses suggest a kind of excess, a Baroque flourish. Editor: And who gets to indulge in this excess? The rider's class and privilege are palpable; the labor of the horses, the subservience of the dog—it all speaks to social hierarchies. Curator: Maybe. Or perhaps it's simply a demonstration of skill, a visual puzzle showing off Swebach’s draftsmanship. I find it lighthearted. Editor: Perhaps both things can be true at once. I notice the tension between the lightheartedness and the embedded social commentary. Curator: I will admit, after our conversation, the image does feel a bit different. Editor: And for me too, its exuberance is a bit more nuanced than I'd initially perceived.