Ruiter en wandelaar 1585

This anonymous drawing, "Ruiter en wandelaar," captures a knight on horseback accompanied by foot travelers. Notice the knight's steed, a symbol of power and nobility, contrasted against the weary wanderers. The motif of the horse carries echoes through time, from the steeds of ancient Greek heroes to Renaissance equestrian portraits. It’s a display of dominance and control. Yet, consider the horse not just as a vehicle, but as a beast of burden, linked to primal instincts and untamed forces. This duality reminds me of the psychological tension between our higher aspirations and our earthly constraints. Such images recur across epochs, reflecting our collective fascination with power, movement, and the eternal journey of life. This interplay of motifs reveals a non-linear dance of symbols, resurfacing and evolving through history, echoing in our subconscious.