Paard c. 1900 - 1923

This sketch, simply titled ‘Paard’ or ‘Horse,’ by George Hendrik Breitner, captures the animal in charcoal pencil, with each line brimming with potential. Throughout history, the horse has been more than just a beast of burden. It gallops through the collective psyche as a symbol of power, freedom, and virility. We see echoes of this in ancient mythologies, from the steeds of the gods to the centaurs that populated classical art. Look closely, and you might glimpse the ghost of a rearing Bucephalus, Alexander the Great’s untamed horse. Yet, here, Breitner's horse is not idealized. It's caught in a moment of quietude, almost melancholic. This shift reflects a modern sensibility. Breitner strips away the heroic veneer, inviting us to contemplate the animal's inherent dignity. This mirrors our own human condition, a blend of strength and vulnerability, forever caught in the currents of time and memory.