Spaanse ruiter c. 1647 - 1648

Gerard ter Borch the Younger sketched this Spanish Rider with pen in hand on paper. The rearing horse, a motif deeply embedded in the collective unconscious, speaks of power, virility, and the untamed forces of nature. This iconography is reminiscent of equestrian statues of Roman emperors, where the horse symbolizes dominion and authority. Yet, in Ter Borch’s delicate sketch, the rider appears almost precarious, his control tentative. Consider how the dynamic posture echoes in Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, where the figure of Liberty, though not on horseback, embodies a similar sense of forward momentum and revolutionary fervor. This primal image, charged with potency, has resurfaced throughout art history, each time infused with new cultural and emotional significance. It’s a symbol that resonates deeply, tapping into subconscious desires for liberation and control.