Staand paard met rustende ruiter 1624 - 1700

This etching, "Standing Horse with Resting Rider" was created by Jan van Aken in the Netherlands, sometime in the mid-17th century. It depicts a rider who has dismounted and is resting against a small grassy hillock, while his horse stands patiently by. In the Dutch Golden Age, the market revolution led to an unprecedented demand for art from a wider public. The etching was one way in which artists sought to meet that demand. Etchings could be made relatively quickly and cheaply and were therefore a very effective way of disseminating images widely. Animal studies became very popular, and this is a fine example. This image offers insight into the growing market for art in 17th century Netherlands. More broadly, it speaks to how the institutions of art distribution can affect the kinds of images that artists create. Examining archival evidence like sales records, artist biographies, and letters can give us a fuller sense of the complex ecosystem in which this print was made.