Paardenkop, van voren gezien 1788 - 1839

Hendrik Voogd rendered this horse head with graphite. The horse, a symbol deeply interwoven with human history, has carried varying cultural significance from one place and era to another. Consider the horses of the Apocalypse, or the steeds pulling the chariots of classical gods. The animal represented power, virility, and untamed nature; a symbol of the life force itself. Yet here, we are presented with merely the head, severed from the body, isolated on the page. The gaze confronts us directly, a stark reminder of mortality, and a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This recalls the motif of the severed head, be it that of Medusa, Holofernes, or even John the Baptist. The symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.