Paard en wagen op een pad op landgoed De Utrecht bij Esbeek, Noord-Brabant before 1915

This small, anonymous image shows a horse and cart on an estate path in Noord-Brabant, we don’t know exactly when. The limited palette works almost like a monochrome painting, focused on the contrast between light and shadow. It feels like the image has been built up in layers, with the artist working over and over the same area. Look at the way the artist has used the light, particularly the way it catches the ruts in the track. The surface texture feels almost palpable, inviting you to reach out and touch it. The way the artist has built up the different areas of the image reminds me of the way Agnes Martin creates planes and depths of colour. Ultimately, it’s a very understated image, it draws you into a particular moment. It makes you wonder about art and the everyday, and the stories of the people who lived and worked there.