Losgebroken span paarden 1889

Albert Heinrich Brendel created this print titled 'Losgebroken span paarden' which translates to 'Broken span of horses', using etching techniques. In the 19th century, the image of horses, especially in dynamic action, often symbolized power, freedom, and the romantic ideal of nature's untamed spirit. Brendel, positioned within a society undergoing rapid industrialization, may have been drawn to depicting animals to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, more agrarian past. The emotional intensity captured in the horses' wild run can be interpreted as a metaphor for the unbridled aspects of human nature or the societal disruptions of the time. Are the horses running away, or towards something? Consider the cultural and social implications of portraying animals in such a state of unrestrained energy. This image invites you to reflect on the relationship between freedom and control, both in individual lives and within the broader societal context.