Aangespannen paard, mogelijk voor een sleperswagen c. 1895 - 1898

George Hendrik Breitner sketched this harnessed horse, possibly for a tow wagon, with a pencil. The horse, a symbol of power and harnessed energy, strides through history. From the war steeds of antiquity to the plough horses tilling fields, it embodies both domination and labor. This drawing, with its raw energy, echoes the dynamic force found in equestrian statues of Roman emperors, where the horse signified imperial might. Yet, here, the wagon suggests a more prosaic purpose, pulling perhaps goods or people through the burgeoning city. Consider how this image resonates with the mythological Centaur – a hybrid creature, man and horse, representing the struggle between instinct and intellect. The horse, then, becomes a mirror reflecting our own internal conflicts. Breitner’s sketch captures this primal tension, inviting us to ponder the multifaceted role of this animal in our collective psyche and history. This reminds us that symbols, like the horse, transcend epochs, carrying layers of meaning that shift with time, yet remain tethered to our deepest, most enduring emotions.