Ruiter 1832 - 1902

Karel Frederik Bombled created this etching of a horseman, sometime in the 19th century. The rider astride his steed is a motif that gallops through history, its echoes resounding from antiquity to modernity. Think of the equestrian statues of Roman emperors, symbols of power and dominion. The horse itself, a potent symbol of virility, freedom, and the untamed forces of nature. Consider how the rider motif evolves across cultures, from the mounted warriors of ancient Persia to the knights of medieval Europe. Each era imbues the symbol with new layers of meaning, reflecting the anxieties, aspirations, and collective memory of its time. This image reminds me of the famous Renaissance painting by Paolo Uccello, the Battle of San Romano, in which we can also see riders on horses in a moment of tension before battle. Just as Bombled, Uccello engages the viewer on a subconscious level. The rider, forever caught in a non-linear dance between past and present.