Horses c. 19th century

Curator: Three horses, etched in exquisite detail. Robert Hills, a man born in the late 18th century, gave us this. Editor: There's such stillness here. It feels like a captured breath, doesn't it? The way they stand, heads bowed… almost mournful. Curator: Hills was known for his animal studies, especially horses. Look at the musculature he’s rendered, the palpable weight of them. This wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was also about animal husbandry. Editor: I wonder about the labor these animals performed. Their strong builds suggest farm work, yet that delicate etching feels so removed from the dirt and sweat. An interesting tension, isn't it? Curator: Indeed. Hills had a fondness for the rural life, elevating it to something almost pastoral. These aren’t just beasts of burden; they're embodiments of an idyllic past. Editor: Maybe that’s why it feels so melancholic. We’re not just seeing horses, but a vanished way of life, meticulously rendered in ink.