Tekenvoorbeelden van paarden 1629

Pieter de Jode I created this sketch titled "Tekenvoorbeelden van paarden", or "Drawing Examples of Horses," sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. De Jode was part of a family of printmakers in Antwerp, a city that was then a center for artistic production and trade. During this era, the image of the horse was closely tied to nobility, warfare, and commerce. Horses were not only essential for transportation and agriculture, but also symbols of status and power. Consider how De Jode’s choice to depict horses reflects the values of his society, where these animals were highly esteemed and their images were circulated as luxury goods. This sketch may have been part of a series intended for artists, or wealthy patrons, interested in capturing the ideal form and posture of horses. The emotional resonance of these animals – their strength, grace, and utility – is embedded within the lines of this drawing. The attention to detail reveals the cultural and social importance attached to horses during this period.