Studieblad met paarden, waarvan er drie rollen 1675 - 1711

Editor: This is "Studieblad met paarden, waarvan er drie rollen," or "Study Sheet with Horses, Three of Which are Rolling," an ink drawing on paper made sometime between 1675 and 1711 by an anonymous artist. It's at the Rijksmuseum. I find the different postures of the horses really striking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the power dynamics implicit in the representation of the horses. Consider the historical context: the relationship between humans and horses, particularly during the Baroque period, speaks volumes about class, labor, and control. Do you notice how some horses are standing powerfully, while others are reclining, almost vulnerable? Editor: I do. It’s interesting, they’re not all doing the same thing. Curator: Precisely. This contrast raises questions about domestication and freedom. Were these horses symbols of wealth and power, or were they representative of the burdens placed upon the working class? The way the artist depicts them—some in motion, others at rest— hints at different roles and social positions. Consider also that in art of this period, animals often functioned as allegories. What might these horses allegorize? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. Maybe the standing horses are the ruling class and the reclining ones the commoners? Curator: That’s an interesting reading. The artist could be commenting on the social hierarchy. The drawing then isn't just a study of animal anatomy but a subtle commentary on societal structures and the varied experiences within them. So what does this anonymous artwork tell us? Is this artist a detached observer, or someone inviting us to question those dynamics? Editor: I guess art can be an entry point for discussions about much larger themes of control, labour, and status. That's really fascinating. Curator: Indeed!