Horses c. 17th century

Curator: Pieter van Laer, known for his contributions to genre painting in Rome, created this piece titled "Horses." Editor: My first thought? Tired. Both the horse and its handler seem pretty weary. There's such a strong sense of gravity. Curator: The image, with its focus on everyday life, reflects the "Bamboccianti" style of genre painting Van Laer helped popularize. Horses often symbolized status, work, and the rural idyll. Editor: I get a different feeling from it, though. Maybe it's the starkness, but I see a commentary on the harshness of work, the burdens these animals carried. Curator: The lines certainly convey that sense of burden. There's a weightiness to the etching technique that underscores the physical strain. Editor: Well, it’s given me a lot to think about. Makes you realize how much stories can be contained in such a small image.