Hoofd van een paard 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard created this drawing, "Head of a Horse," during a transformative period in European history. Born in 1765, Bernard lived through the Enlightenment and the rise of revolutionary ideals that challenged traditional hierarchies. The image of the horse’s head, rendered with such attention to detail, exists in a social context where horses were essential for agriculture, transportation, and warfare. It embodies power, wealth, and status. Bernard’s choice to focus on the horse’s head invites us to consider the animal's role in society, as property, a beast of burden, a symbol. But perhaps he saw the creature as a collaborator, a partner. How do we view these animals? What histories do they carry in their eyes? It’s a reflection of our values.