Paard, staand naar rechts 1793

Editor: Here we have Martin Ferdinand Quadal's "Paard, staand naar rechts," created in 1793. It’s a pencil sketch, I think, and something about it feels very… stately, but also a bit lonely. What do you make of it? Curator: Lonely, you say? I love that. I feel that tug too. The central horse is rendered with such detail, isn't it? Almost a portrait. He is indeed noble, even a touch melancholic. Do you think he's lonely because of his stature, or is there something in the composition that suggests that to you? Perhaps it's the positioning of the other horses in the background. They seem somewhat oblivious to him. Editor: Maybe it's the contrast. He's so defined, while everything behind him fades. It's like he's stuck in the foreground, a bit isolated from the life behind him. Curator: Exactly! It’s almost theatrical, isn’t it? Like he is waiting in the wings, waiting for the grand play, the spotlight. Imagine the story behind that gaze! And what about the coach to the right, another horse almost tethered to a job in comparison? I think Quadal is making quite the commentary about societal position through his composition. Editor: I see what you mean. He's not just drawing a horse; he's drawing a horse in a particular circumstance. It really changes how you look at it. Curator: It is a conversation starter! And there is such honesty about the animal here - every strand of hair seems visible. Editor: Definitely, noticing these things makes the drawing much more impactful! Thank you for sharing these insights.