Henri IV on Horseback 1609

Curator: This is Léonard Gaultier's engraving, "Henri IV on Horseback," now housed in the Harvard Art Museums. The artist, born in 1561, captures a triumphant king, but I wonder, what does it evoke for you? Editor: Grandeur, definitely. But also, a strange stiffness. It's like the horse and rider are posing for a very formal, slightly uncomfortable portrait. Curator: Indeed. Equestrian portraits were common symbols of power and authority. The fallen armor beneath the horse can be seen as symbols of vanquished foes. Editor: So, the symbolic weight is supposed to overpower any sense of awkwardness? I suppose the king wouldn't want to appear as anything less than an unapproachable icon. Curator: Precisely. The image serves as a reminder of his reign, his strength, and his legacy. Editor: It makes you wonder about the cost of such curated projection and what gets lost in translation over time.