Hoofd van een paard met oogkleppen, naar links 1819

Jean Bernard made this small drawing of a horse’s head with graphite on paper. Bernard was active during a period of significant political and social upheaval in Europe, living through the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, historical forces that shaped artistic production as artists navigated new roles. In this drawing, the horse wears blinders, a detail that speaks volumes about control and direction. How might we consider this image in light of the historical contexts of the time? Horses were essential for transportation, agriculture, and warfare, their labor and movement always under human control. The horse rendered by Bernard is at once a representation of nature, and a symbol of how labor is managed and controlled. While this work appears simple, it invites us to consider complex questions about agency, freedom, and the historical conditions of both humans and animals.