Aufgezäumter Schimmel, fressend nach rechts 

Editor: This ink and graphite drawing, "Aufgezäumter Schimmel, fressend nach rechts"—loosely translated, "White horse, saddled and feeding to the right"—is attributed to Conrad Gesner. It feels very classical in its simplicity, almost like a quick sketch from life. What visual echoes or cultural references do you perceive? Curator: The horse, especially a white horse, carries a heavy symbolic load. Consider its presence in mythology—Pegasus, the steeds of Apollo—and its long association with nobility, power, and even purity. Even here, caught in a moment of humble consumption, those echoes linger, don't they? Does the act of "feeding" hold symbolic resonance for you? Editor: It's interesting you point that out. Perhaps there's a commentary on even the noblest creatures needing sustenance. I’m struck by the contrast between the prepared saddle, and the horse's very mundane activity of feeding. Curator: Precisely. Consider how the artist juxtaposes those elements: the potential for action versus the present stillness, the call to adventure muted by earthly needs. It raises questions about the nature of service, duty, and the roles we’re assigned, doesn’t it? Notice the muted color palette, which imbues the work with a timeless quality. Editor: I see what you mean about the timelessness; even though it’s just a simple drawing, the horse almost feels allegorical. Curator: Yes! Allegory isn’t just about grand narratives. Everyday scenes, like this one, can carry symbolic weight, whispering to us across centuries about our shared human experience, our needs and expectations of one another, the symbolic roles of animals… and the horse especially! I like that this invites a deep look with a subtle expression. Editor: I learned a lot! I’ll never look at a horse drawing quite the same way again. Thanks for that perspective. Curator: My pleasure. It's always rewarding to trace the threads of meaning woven into even the simplest images.