Dame op een paard bezoekt een boerderij 1840 - 1870

This delicate artwork by Jules Marie Desandré presents us with a visit to a farm, captured in watercolor. Central is the horse, a motif laden with symbolism, representing status and power. The mounted woman is the very image of prestige, visiting a humble dwelling. But let us delve deeper. The horse, beyond its surface meaning, has a long lineage. Consider the equestrian statues of Roman emperors, where the horse signified imperial might. Even earlier, in ancient Greece, horses were linked to Poseidon, god of the sea, their untamed energy mirroring the ocean's depths. Here, the horse is in service of the woman, a narrative shift that mirrors evolving societal structures. The presence of the dog is also notable; an animal historically thought of as loyal and watchful, it represents loyalty and domesticity, perhaps hinting at the virtues idealized within the domestic sphere. The symbols are not static. They transform through centuries, resonating with our collective psyche, and resurfacing in unexpected forms.