Ruiter in medaillon 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos created this medallion of a rider sometime before 1838. Encircling the scene is the 'Ouroboros'—a symbol of cyclicality, of endings that are also beginnings. Here, we see a lone rider pausing, perhaps reflecting. The horse, a symbol of virility and power, is momentarily still. The trees on the left and the birds above are traditional symbols of freedom and opportunity. Yet, there is also a sense of restraint, of decisions pending. Consider how the equestrian statue, from antiquity to the Renaissance, projects power and authority. But here, the rider pauses, his future not yet determined. The cyclical nature of the medallion form reminds us that history, like life, moves in spirals. Symbols resurface, their meanings evolving, reflecting our collective, ever-changing psyche.