Paardenhoofd met een hoofdstel met bel 1815 - 1860

Here we see Abraham Hendrik Winter’s rendering of a horse’s head with a harness and bell. Consider the socio-economic context of the early to mid-19th century, the period during which Winter lived. Horses were essential not just for transportation, but also for agriculture and military operations. The horse here is not romanticized. Instead we see a working animal, complete with its harness and bell, a detail which underscores its utilitarian role. The bell would serve to announce its presence. How might we consider the animal’s ‘identity’ and social positioning here? This print serves as a potent reminder of the historical relationships between humans and animals, the labor they provide, and the complex hierarchies of power. This representation invites us to think about how we assign value and dignity, not just within our own species, but across the animal kingdom.