Horses c. 17th century

Curator: Before us is "Horses," an undated etching by Pieter van Laer, a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his influence on the Bamboccianti genre. Editor: There's a ruggedness to the scene, isn't there? A coarse visual texture created by the density of lines. Curator: Van Laer spent a significant time in Rome, where his work depicted the everyday lives of ordinary people, and earned him the nickname "Il Bamboccio," meaning "clumsy doll." Editor: The rendering of the figures, particularly the horse, feels deliberately unrefined. The animal has this awkward, almost comical stance. Curator: Exactly. And these depictions challenged the high-minded academic art of the time, offering a democratic view of labor and leisure. Editor: The formal looseness mirrors the subject matter—a rejection of idealized forms. Curator: It's a compelling image for thinking about how artistic taste is shaped by class and cultural values. Editor: Indeed, seeing how technique serves representation really deepens our understanding.