Paardenhoofd met hoofdbedekking, naar rechts before 1841

Curator: Well, hello there! Look at this, it is titled "Paardenhoofd met hoofdbedekking, naar rechts," which translates to "Horse Head with Head Covering, Facing Right," a work by Joannes Bemme. Dating from before 1841, this print, crafted through etching, is held here at the Rijksmuseum. It feels remarkably present, doesn't it? Editor: Yes, it really does. My first impression is this: quiet dignity. There’s a solemn beauty to this horse, even just in the head and neck. It's like the artist captured a moment of noble stillness. I feel like I want to know its story! Curator: It is interesting, isn't it? The artist's choice to focus solely on the horse's head encourages viewers to consider its character. Representations of animals are invariably also representations of human-animal relations, of domination, labor, and other such forms of social organization and relation. Think here of race, gender, and the colonial enterprise; here, in an odd sense, we encounter them all. Editor: Mmh, maybe so, but there’s a softness in the shading. A lot of light—a sense of breath. What you see is a complex socio-political entanglement, which I don’t disagree with—but what I experience here is simple quiet. Curator: The print's minimalist approach focuses attention on the intricate detail of the horse's head covering. Such coverings were integral to horsemanship, especially within elite military circles. The representation then arguably functions to communicate about notions of authority and hierarchy. Editor: The tack makes it more compelling. A sort of…gentle restraint, perhaps. It’s a well-mannered horse! What was its job? Did it race? Haul cargo? Just stand around looking dignified? Curator: These are interesting considerations! It encourages critical inquiry into systems of power as manifested through images of the nonhuman. Editor: Right, right. So, seeing beyond the systems of power... Curator: Exactly. It invites you to meditate on themes of hierarchy, identity, and control. Editor: And for me it is about simplicity, light, shadow, and story. Different, equally good. Curator: Indeed, each experience highlights distinct facets of this intriguing image, broadening our insights into the artistic and historical complexities that underpin Joannes Bemme's "Horse Head." Editor: Agreed! What a good horse.