Kozak te paard 1751

Arnoldus van Geffen, who lived in the 18th century, made this small sculpture of a Kozak on horseback from silver. The choice of material is key. Silver objects like this one often acted as a portable demonstration of wealth and taste. Note the way the metal is cast and chased, giving shape to the rider's coat and the horse's mane. These details are sharply rendered, with a burnished surface to catch the light. Although small, the figure has a clear symbolic value. Kozaks were renowned for their horsemanship and military prowess. Van Geffen has rendered the rider in a moment of action, sword raised, embodying bravery and strength. The object would have been made in a workshop setting, dividing labor into specialized tasks. Thinking about this object, we can appreciate how the value of materials, the skilled labor of making, and the social context of wealth and power converge in a small yet significant work of art.