Ruiters op een veldslag c. 1733 - 1762

This is Jean Moyreau's "Ruiters op een veldslag", a battle scene etched with incredible detail. At its heart, the rearing horse, a symbol of untamed power, dominates the composition. This motif gallops through art history, from the warhorses of ancient friezes to Renaissance equestrian portraits. Consider the psychological resonance of this image. The horse, caught in the frenzy of battle, mirrors the human psyche under duress. The chaos and dynamism remind me of Leonardo’s "Battle of Anghiari", though Moyreau captures a more intimate, immediate sense of conflict. Flags and banners, signs of allegiance and pride, appear throughout history, from ancient Roman standards to modern-day national flags. They are not merely identifiers but potent symbols that stir collective emotions, inspiring bravery and inciting violence. The rearing horse and the raised flag – these are primal gestures. They persist, adapted through epochs, reminding us of the eternal dance between order and chaos, control and abandon, that defines human experience.