Zeven paarden in een landschap met ruïnes 1718 - 1781

Christian Rugendas created this print of seven horses in a landscape with ruins sometime between 1708 and 1781. Rugendas, born into a family of painters, became known for battle scenes and animal depictions, specifically horses. In this piece, the horses are set against a backdrop of classical ruins, a popular subject reflecting the 18th-century fascination with antiquity and its connection to power and empire. But beyond the picturesque scene, what does it mean to center the horse? Historically, the horse is linked to nobility, warfare, and labor. They were not merely animals, but symbols of status and power, deeply embedded in the socio-economic structures of the time. One wonders if Rugendas' choice to portray them is simply aesthetic, or does it comment on the relationship between humans, animals, and the landscapes they inhabit? What stories do these horses carry?