Maskerade van de Utrechtse studenten, 1846 (plaat 8) 1847

Carel Christiaan Antony Last made this print of the Utrecht student parade in 1846. Notice the horses adorned with plumes and decorative patterns. Horses, throughout history, have been potent symbols, representing power, freedom, and nobility. From the steeds of ancient gods to the warhorses of medieval knights, they embody vigor and control. Look at the horses of the Parthenon frieze: they share the same spirit and symbolism. Here, in Last's depiction, the horses are tamed and ornamented, reflecting a tension between wild energy and social order. This tension reminds us of the Dionysian and Apollonian dichotomy—the raw, untamed forces of nature versus the structured, rational intellect. Such displays engage our subconscious, stirring primal emotions linked to control, status, and perhaps, even repressed desires. These symbols recur, evolve, and are constantly reinterpreted, revealing our complex relationship with power and nature.