Plate LVIII 18th-19th century

Curator: Jacques-Francois-Joseph Swebach, the artist behind "Plate LVIII" at the Harvard Art Museums, presents us with a delicate rendering of two horses in simple lines. What strikes you first about this work? Editor: They seem so...preoccupied. Like they're in their own little world, completely unbothered. One's scratching, the other's grooming. It's almost comical. Curator: There is a strong sense of individualism on display in each horse. As beasts of burden, they are often portrayed in relation to servitude. Here, Swebach seems more interested in their private existence. Editor: True, though I can't help but feel this simplicity hints at a deeper narrative. Like, what are they escaping from by turning inwards? Are they resisting some outside force? Curator: That's a fascinating interpretation. I would argue that these depictions resist the traditional framing of animals in art, offering a perspective of self-contained agency. Editor: It leaves you pondering, doesn't it? You start to wonder what thoughts are running through their equine minds. Curator: Indeed. It's a quiet rebellion, perhaps. A gentle nudge to reconsider our relationship with the non-human world. Editor: Well, now I’ll never look at a horse the same way again. Thanks for that!