Paard voor een hooiwagen 1848 - 1865

"Paard voor een hooiwagen" (Horse before a Hay Wagon), a pencil sketch by Gerard Bilders, depicts a horse harnessed to a hay wagon, a common sight in the 19th century Netherlands. The work, dated 1848-1865, was created during Bilders' short but prolific artistic career, which sadly ended with his untimely death in 1865. While the figure of the wagon driver is only partially sketched, the horse is rendered in more detail, showcasing Bilders' talent for capturing the anatomy and movement of animals. The artwork is currently housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, offering a glimpse into the daily life of the Dutch countryside in the mid-19th century.