Twee achter elkaar liggende gesneuvelde paarden 1674 - 1733

Jan van Huchtenburg created this drawing, "Two Fallen Horses Lying Behind Each Other," with pen in gray-brown ink, around the late 17th or early 18th century. The image presents a stark view of war, focusing on the lifeless forms of horses rather than heroic combat. The composition emphasizes the geometry of the animals' bodies, using line and form to convey their stillness. Notice how the stark lines create a sense of texture, particularly in the depiction of the horses' musculature and hides. Here, the artist seems less concerned with narrative and more with the formal qualities of rendering the figures. This shift reflects a broader artistic interest in exploring the aesthetic dimensions of form and representation. In its focus on materiality and form, the drawing invites us to consider the aesthetic codes through which war and its aftermath are portrayed, challenging conventional notions of heroism.