Paarden die de schuiten trekken, 1577 1577 - 1578

Editor: Here we have "Paarden die de schuiten trekken," or "Horses Drawing Boats," made around 1577 by Antoni van Leest. It's an engraving that seems quite fantastical, almost like a dreamscape of nature and labor. It makes me wonder how accurate or symbolic it is? What’s your perspective on it? Curator: Ah, a little portal to the past, isn’t it? Look at the intricacy of those lines—it’s as if the artist is mapping not just a scene, but also a feeling, a rhythm of life. You feel the tension of the horses, but there's also this serenity in the natural setting. Consider how prints like these were little storytellers. Can you imagine who might have seen this, and what they might have felt about this? Editor: Possibly someone documenting daily life, or perhaps looking for a picturesque scene? Curator: Precisely! These prints circulated widely, sharing visual narratives that connected people across distances. I wonder though, are these 'workhorses,' or creatures of a more romantic or fanciful inclination? How can we read that through this etching technique? Editor: The detailed linework makes me feel like these could also be symbols of strength? Like emblems? Curator: Good eye! Exactly. So perhaps, we could read a parallel between the horse’s strength and the emerging merchant strength that sustained and underwrote cities across Europe. Makes you see it a little differently, right? Editor: Definitely. I initially focused on the composition, but understanding its purpose and context makes it richer. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! Always fun to consider that behind every line, there’s a whole world humming, wanting to be heard, I believe.