Voorstudie voor prent met trekpaard en variant voor de achterpartij 1880 - 1911

Pieter Dupont sketched this study for a print of a draught horse. The horse, a symbol of strength and vitality, appears throughout art history, bearing gods, warriors, and allegorical figures. Here, the horse is not a steed of war but a beast of burden, its power harnessed for labor. Yet, even in this mundane role, the horse retains its symbolic weight. I recall equestrian statues of emperors, their mounts signaling dominion and control. The curve of the horse's neck echoes in depictions of Neptune's steeds, wild and untamed. Consider the horse's role in mythology: from the Trojan Horse, a symbol of deceit and cunning, to the winged Pegasus, representing inspiration. In Dupont's sketch, the horse's forward momentum is palpable, a visual echo of humanity's own relentless drive. This image speaks to the enduring power of symbols, their ability to resonate across cultures and epochs, reminding us of our shared past and perpetual pursuit of meaning.