Group of Seven Wild Horses 1534

Hans Baldung created this woodcut, "Group of Seven Wild Horses," around 1534, using stark black lines to depict dynamic forms. The image presents a mass of horses, intertwined in a flurry of movement which likely held symbolic significance at the time. The horse, as a noble animal, was associated with the upper classes and its role in transportation, agriculture, and warfare. The fact that these horses are ‘wild’ may be significant; are they refusing to be tamed? Baldung was working in Germany during the early years of the Reformation, a period of immense social upheaval. His status as a leading artist suggests that his works would have been viewed in the context of these religious and political struggles. Historians consult various sources to better understand the meanings of artworks, from contemporary religious texts to economic reports. Art doesn't exist in a vacuum; instead, it is firmly rooted in the social conditions of its own time.