Two Horses Fighting, Running to the Right 1590

Curator: This is Antonio Tempesta's "Two Horses Fighting, Running to the Right," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Look at the furious energy! Editor: The density of lines really creates a sense of chaotic movement. You can almost feel the tension in their muscles and the dust rising. Curator: Tempesta’s etching technique is quite remarkable. The cross-hatching builds form and suggests the texture of the horses' coats, highlighting their dynamism. Editor: I'm drawn to how the tools shaped the image—the biting of the acid, the hand guiding the burin. It speaks of labor and skill. Curator: Indeed, and the composition directs the eye to the focal point of their struggle, creating a powerful narrative through form alone. Editor: It makes me consider the tradition of horsemanship and its connection to power. Who commissioned this, and what social role did it fulfill? Curator: An interesting avenue for thought. I’m left contemplating the relationship between form and content in this tempestuous image. Editor: For me, I keep thinking about the sheer physicality required to make this, and how it connects to broader systems of production.