Vervoer van een gestorven paard 1708 - 1767

Johann Elias Ridinger created this etching, ‘Vervoer van een gestorven paard’, which translates to ‘Transport of a dead horse,’ during the eighteenth century. Notice how Ridinger uses clear, precise lines to depict the scene. The composition is carefully arranged, with the stark contrast between the dark, lifeless horse and the somewhat indifferent figures creating a disturbing visual tension. The eye is drawn to the horizontal orientation of the dead horse atop the cart. This unsettling juxtaposition invites us to question the relationship between humans and animals, life and death. The scene might also prompt questions about labour and the social hierarchy. The workers’ weary demeanor suggests a critique of the era’s brutal realities. Thus, this etching engages in a dialogue about the treatment of animals, labor, and the socio-economic structure of the time. This makes ‘Transport of a dead horse’ not just an aesthetic object, but a socio-political statement.