Studienblatt_ Die Vorderläufe eines Pferdes sowie ein Kinderkopf en face 

Annibale Carracci created this study sheet of a horse’s forelegs and a child’s face in pen and brown ink, sometime in the late 16th century. During Carracci's time, the dominant artistic style was moving away from the highly stylized forms of the late Renaissance towards a more naturalistic approach. As you can see, Carracci’s focus on anatomical accuracy in the horse's legs reflects a broader cultural shift towards empirical observation and realism. This drawing also speaks to the period’s view of childhood. The child's face is rendered with a directness that invites the viewer to consider innocence and potential. Carracci bridges the traditional and the modern by combining animal and human studies on one sheet, echoing the Renaissance interest in observation and classification of the natural world. This piece reflects the era’s evolving understanding of the individual within the natural order, mirroring shifts in society and identity during this pivotal time.