Het paard 1894 - 1959

This print of a horse resides here at the Rijksmuseum, made by Gordinne. Here, the horse in the stable is far more than just an animal; it’s a vessel carrying centuries of layered meanings. The horse itself, throughout history, has symbolized power, freedom, and nobility. One might consider its presence in ancient Greek sculptures, where it embodies heroic virtue. But here, confined within the stable, this noble creature is bound. Consider how the pitchfork that leans against the horse adds a layer to this discourse. We see the horse in a very different light now, as a symbol of labor, subservience, and the harnessing of raw power for human ends. Like a recurring dream, the image of the horse reappears throughout history, from the chariot races of Rome to the battlefields of medieval Europe, each time infused with the anxieties and aspirations of the age. It is forever caught in a cyclical dance between freedom and constraint, power and submission.