Studie van een paard zwaaiend met zijn staart, van achteren 1660

Moses ter Borch created this chalk drawing of a horse from behind, sometime in the mid-17th century in the Netherlands. Ter Borch was a member of a family of artists, at a time when the Dutch Republic was a major economic and artistic power. Horses in art at this time were often symbols of wealth, power, and status, reflecting the importance of equestrianism in aristocratic society. However, Ter Borch's humble study presents the animal without a rider or any indicators of grandeur. The horse, captured in a moment of movement, occupies the majority of the composition, with the details of its muscular form carefully rendered. The intimacy of the rear view offers a unique perspective, one that invites contemplation on the animal's own experience, rather than its symbolic function. It’s a small but tender sketch, which captures a moment of animal being.