Staand paard, naar rechts 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard created this pencil drawing of a standing horse at an unknown date, it is now held at the Rijksmuseum. Bernard lived through the Batavian Revolution, the Napoleonic era, and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. During this time horses became potent symbols of power, military strength, and national identity. Aristocrats and the military frequently had portraits done of themselves on horseback to assert authority. In contrast, Bernard's simple sketch bypasses political messaging. There is no rider, no landscape, and little detail in the drawing. Bernard invites us into a more intimate, even empathetic engagement with the animal. The horse is presented simply standing in a field, vulnerable and unadorned. The drawing feels like an exercise in observation, rather than a declaration of dominance. The result is a quiet, unassuming, and emotionally resonant artwork.