Het paardespel 1865 - 1875

This lithograph by George Lodewijk Funke, titled "Het paardespel," presents a series of equestrian scenes. These playful images echo a long tradition of equestrian performance, a motif rooted in displays of power and skill. Note the figure wielding a sword while standing atop a horse. This recalls classical images of military prowess and dominance. Consider the Roman equestrian statues, where the horse symbolized not just transport, but imperial control. The figure's control over the animal mirrors a leader's control over his domain. Yet here, the context shifts. Instead of a battlefield, we see a circus, a space of entertainment. This reflects a metamorphosis in the symbol's meaning. The raw power of the horse is tamed, domesticated, and transformed into spectacle. The collective memory of the horse, once a symbol of war, now evokes delight. We see the cyclical progression of symbols, how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.