Steenie or Redgauntlet Pursued by a Goblin on Horseback 1829

Eugène Delacroix captured this scene in ink, portraying "Steenie or Redgauntlet Pursued by a Goblin on Horseback." At the heart of this image lies the motif of the chase. One figure flees, while another, perhaps not entirely human, pursues relentlessly. This dynamic resonates with ancient myths, such as Actaeon fleeing Diana’s wrath, or even the Wild Hunt, where figures are eternally pursued. Consider the horse—a symbol of power and instinct. Here, it becomes an extension of the goblin, driving the chase. In contrast, the other horse rears, perhaps sensing the uncanny nature of its pursuer. We see echoes of this rearing horse in Renaissance depictions of battles, where it signifies both power and the chaos of conflict. The chase stirs primal fears deep within our collective unconscious, and the image taps into this deep-seated unease, reminding us of humanity’s vulnerability to unseen forces. The symbolism within carries a timeless quality, one that transcends the artwork's specific context.