Ruiters voor het Belvedere te Weimar 1886

Conrad Ahrendts created this print of riders before the Belvedere in Weimar. Here we see the horse—an ancient symbol of power, nobility, and the heroic spirit. The riders, confidently astride their mounts, embody control and authority, echoing equestrian statues of emperors throughout history. Consider the Roman emperors who used equestrian statues to project invincibility, or even earlier, the horse's association with solar deities. This image is part of a long tradition of harnessing the horse to symbolize dominance and prestige. Now, think of how the horse transcends mere transport. It touches upon deep-seated cultural memories—a subconscious recognition of its primal power. It is a motif that resurfaces, each time subtly altered by the era, reminding us that symbols never truly disappear; they are merely transformed.