Staand lastpaardje met zijmanden en een kruik 1813 - 1860

Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps made this drawing of a standing packhorse with saddlebags and a jug in the 19th century. It's rendered in graphite, a medium that lends itself to capturing the textures of the horse’s coat and the woven baskets it carries. Decamps was a French painter known for his Orientalist scenes. This work might seem like a simple study, but it reflects broader trends in European art at the time. The 19th century saw a growing interest in the lives of ordinary people and the changing social landscape. Decamps’ choice to depict a working animal connects to a larger artistic interest in rural life and labor. Drawings like these offer a glimpse into the everyday realities of the past. By looking at similar images and studying the economic history of the time, we can understand the role of animals in society. Art history, in this sense, is not just about aesthetics, but about understanding the complex interplay between art, culture, and society.