"Wohl auf, kameraden, aufs pferd, aufs pferd! Ins feld, in die freiheit gezogen!" ("Come On, Comrades, to Horse, to Horse! To Battle, Bound for Liberty!") 1923

Lovis Corinth etched "Come On, Comrades, to Horse, to Horse! To Battle, Bound for Liberty!" to capture the raw fervor of soldiers heading to war. The horse, a potent symbol throughout history, embodies power, virility, and martial prowess. Here, the figures atop their steeds evoke the classical equestrian statues of antiquity, such as Marcus Aurelius, where the horse signified imperial authority and triumph. Yet, Corinth’s agitated lines and chaotic composition disrupt any sense of stately glory. The raised arm of the central figure is reminiscent of the "ad locutio" gesture, a command given by Roman emperors to their troops, but here it seems desperate, almost frantic. This primal call to arms stirs deep within our collective psyche. The imagery of men and horses charging into the unknown carries echoes of ancient battles, mythical centaurs, and the relentless march of progress. The horse, once a symbol of nobility, is now a vehicle of destruction, ridden by figures caught in the throes of patriotic fervor. This symbol, once linear, constantly resurfaces, evolving through time, always charged with the potent energy of human conflict.