Landschap met paarden 1623 - 1652

This small etching, "Landschap met paarden," by Cornelis van Kittensteyn, presents us with a pastoral scene, where figures and animals traverse a landscape marked by gentle slopes and sparse vegetation. The horse, a recurring motif, is laden with symbolic weight. It appears throughout the history of art and symbolizes power and nobility, but also labor. Here, it is not prancing in a parade, but carrying figures through a humble, rural setting. We see echoes of classical equestrian statues, yet these are muted, transposed into a minor key, reflecting a psychological shift towards everyday life and a subtle power dynamic. The collective memory of the horse engages us, carrying layers of meaning and subconscious recognition. As this symbol moves through time, its meaning changes and reappears in new forms, illustrating the cyclical nature of cultural memory.