Negen anatomische studies van een paardenhoofd 1788 - 1839

Hendrik Voogd rendered these nine anatomical studies of a horse's head in delicate pencil strokes. The horse, an ancient symbol of power, freedom, and nobility, appears here dissected, analyzed, almost flayed of its heroic attributes. This echoes the classical world, where horses drew the chariots of gods and heroes. However, here, the symbol is fragmented. These heads, devoid of bodies, recall the detached heads of mythical figures—severed yet still potent. Consider the head of Medusa, a terrifying image of power even in death. The act of dissecting the horse’s head serves to tap into our collective memory. We see not just anatomy, but the enduring echo of equine might. The horse has resurfaced through history, evolving from a symbol of war to one of freedom, each age imbuing it with new layers.