Horses 18th-19th century

Curator: Here we have "Horses" by Adam von Bartsch, created sometime before his death in 1821. Editor: They seem utterly exhausted. The saddles suggest work, but their stillness evokes a deeper weariness, a world-tired resignation. Curator: Horses, of course, have long symbolized nobility, power, freedom. However, Bartsch captures them at rest, perhaps mirroring the political exhaustion after the Napoleonic wars. Editor: And that tethered horse in the foreground. It feels so symbolic of restraint and the loss of autonomy after such a period of upheaval. Curator: Absolutely. The white horse may represent purity, while the darker one, duty. Bartsch's masterful etching captures these shifting meanings so subtly. Editor: I see the world reflected in them. Exhausted but still standing. Beautiful and powerful. Curator: I agree, a lasting commentary on resilience.