Aus einem Sack fressendes Pferd, rückansichtig in starker Verkürzung 

Johann Heinrich Roos captured this image of a horse feeding from a sack in a drawing around the mid-17th century. The motif of an animal engrossed in sustenance is ancient, echoing themes of provision and dependency seen across cultures. Consider the Roman sculptures where animals are depicted in scenes of sacrifice, or even the Christian art that uses animals for allegorical purposes. The horse, often a symbol of power and nobility, is here reduced to its basic needs. This depiction resonates with similar themes in Dutch Golden Age painting, where everyday scenes reveal deeper moral or psychological truths. The act of feeding, a fundamental life process, connects us to primal instincts. Roos’s study taps into a collective memory, reminding us that even the noblest creatures are bound by earthly needs. This image invites us to reflect on our own relationship with sustenance and the inherent vulnerabilities we share with all living beings. The raw honesty in this portrayal creates a powerful, subconscious link across centuries.