Span paarden langs een greppel 1871 - 1906

Pieter de Josselin de Jong created this pencil drawing, "Span paarden langs een greppel," whose date remains unconfirmed. The image shows two horses, figures that for centuries had been emblems of power, labor, and status, captured here with a delicate, almost fleeting touch. During De Josselin de Jong’s time, rapid industrialization transformed Dutch society. The agrarian life, with its deep connection to animals like these horses, was beginning to fade, replaced by an urban, mechanized world. This drawing seems to capture a moment of transition, a quiet pause in the face of progress. The sketch offers a glimpse into the changing relationship between humans and animals, between tradition and modernity. De Josselin de Jong invites us to reflect on the emotional and cultural significance of these animals as they navigate a landscape marked by change.