Paardenballet 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella created this drawing, titled “Paardenballet,” sometime between 1620 and 1660. The drawing presents various formations of riders on horseback, each a carefully choreographed display of power and elegance. In the 17th century, these equestrian ballets were more than mere entertainment; they were elaborate performances intended to demonstrate the wealth and control of the aristocracy. Courtly life was highly performative, where status was asserted through spectacle. Consider the horse itself: a symbol of nobility and military might. But this image belies the amount of labor and exploitation required to maintain such displays. While the riders, presumably men of high status, are at the forefront, the labor of stable workers, trainers, and others who enabled these performances, remains unseen. These images speak to the way power is not only performed but also constructed. It makes me think about what stories are being told, and whose voices are being centered in these narratives of grandeur and spectacle.