In 't Jaar 1296 c. 1789 - 1810

This anonymous drawing, made with pen in gray ink, depicts a scene from the year 1296. Our focus falls upon the central image: a group of mounted figures engaged in what appears to be a skirmish, crossing a river. The horse, here, is not merely a means of transport but a symbol of power, virility, and control. Think of the equestrian statues of Roman emperors, or the mounted knights of medieval lore. This symbol has echoes across cultures, from ancient Greece to the Renaissance. Notice the rearing horse; a motif that echoes in Delacroix and Rubens' works. The horse represents untamed energy and emotional intensity. It taps into a primal, almost subconscious level. The symbol appears again and again, shifting its tone with each telling, echoing through the halls of history.