Studieblad, onder andere met een paard Possibly 1881 - 1886

This sketchbook page, rendered by George Hendrik Breitner, captures raw impressions with just a few strokes of graphite. At the top left, we see the head of a horse. Since the dawn of civilization, the horse has been a potent symbol, embodying nobility, strength, and freedom. In ancient Greece, we see the horse associated with Poseidon, god of the sea, and it pulls the chariots of heroes across countless friezes and vase paintings. Centuries later, the equestrian statue became a symbol of power, immortalizing emperors and generals in triumphant poses. Here, however, the horse is rendered with a quick, almost nervous line, hinting at a more primal energy—a connection to the untamed forces of nature. Consider how this symbol of vitality has been tamed and repurposed through history, yet its initial wild spirit continues to stir something deep within us.