Zwei Bauernpferde vor einem Wirtshaus unter Bäumen 1791

Johann Georg Pforr made this watercolor painting of two farm horses, in front of a tavern under trees, sometime in the late eighteenth century. Watercolors allow for layering and blending, creating soft textures and atmospheric effects. Pforr skillfully uses these techniques to depict the scene's rural setting and capture the subtle interplay of light and shadow. The materiality of the buildings and surrounding landscape reflects the realities of rural life and the labor involved in agricultural production. The worn textures of the thatched roof, wooden beams and stone foundation suggest age and wear, hinting at the passage of time and the cycles of nature. The horses themselves are of course symbols of labor, and they are captured here in a moment of rest and reflection. The painting invites us to consider the relationship between human activity and the natural environment, as well as the social dynamics of rural communities. By focusing on the everyday lives of ordinary people and the materials that shaped their world, Pforr offers a glimpse into a bygone era.