Landschap met paard van het Iberisch Schiereiland c. 1590 - 1637

This engraving by Egbert van Panderen depicts a rearing horse against a landscape representing the Iberian Peninsula. The horse, a symbol of power and vitality, immediately draws our attention. Consider the equestrian statues of Roman emperors, where the horse signified dominion and control. The rearing pose, often associated with triumph, echoes through time, resurfacing in Renaissance battle scenes and Baroque displays of power. But here, the horse seems almost untamed, wild. The image stirs a primal connection to the animal, a collective memory of the horse's role in human history—a powerful force engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. This symbol has undergone transformations, but its inherent emotional and psychological power persists. Across eras, its meaning shifts, influenced by social change and cultural context, yet the echoes of its past grandeur remain.