Paard van voren gezien 1610 - 1650

Evert Wyntgis made this drawing of a horse, from the front, with pen in gray ink. The image conveys how horses were understood in the Netherlands, and the rest of Europe, whenever this was made. Horses carried a very specific social meaning at this time. Owning horses, and especially owning powerful steeds, was a privilege only accessible to the upper classes. The Netherlands was one of Europe's main horse-trading centers. The Dutch were masters at breeding and training horses. The military and economic power of the Dutch Republic relied on their mastery of equestrianism. To understand this image better, we can study books on horsemanship, look at military records of the time, and study the archives of the Dutch East India Company. Understanding art requires an understanding of its social and institutional context.