Hints to Bad Horsemen, No. 1: Symptoms of Restiveness 1781

Curator: This coloured pencil drawing, "Hints to Bad Horsemen, No. 1: Symptoms of Restiveness," by Henry William Bunbury, dates back to 1781. It currently resides here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Oh, what a perfectly grumpy scene! The tension is palpable – I can almost feel the horse's reluctance. I feel sorry for him, saddled by a very, um, "determined" rider. Curator: Indeed. Bunbury was quite the satirist, often lampooning social classes. The print utilizes caricature to great effect. Note the exaggeration in the rider's physique and the horse's posture – a stark contrast amplified by the open, yet subtly unsettling landscape. Editor: Absolutely! It’s as if the landscape itself is sighing with exasperation. And the colors – a muted palette, save for the rider's rather bright blue coat, which only serves to highlight his absurdity. The artist made him such that one may want to root for the horse here. Curator: The composition itself speaks volumes. The deliberate placement of the weathered signpost, nearly broken, seems to symbolize the uncertain direction and the decay of horsemanship, perhaps alluding to wider societal issues of competence and control. Editor: It feels so staged though – as if the rider posed to have this very caricature made in the first place. What a way to make yourself immortal – for better or worse. Curator: An astute observation. One cannot deny the piece holds up across centuries, offering layered critiques beyond mere horsemanship. Editor: So true, although it almost feels tragic somehow. Maybe tragic-comedy! It’s like looking at an old joke that still lands… and also makes you wince a bit. Curator: It captures a certain enduring human foible, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Undeniably. It’s the kind of work that burrows under your skin and resurfaces at unexpected moments, makes you realize that the art transcends the technique used, and lingers on for a good cause!