Studieblad, onder andere met een mannenhoofd en een paardensnuit 1884 - 1886

George Hendrik Breitner sketched this page, filled with studies of a man's head and a horse's snout, with pencil. Observe how the horse’s snout, isolated from its body, evokes a primeval connection to the animal spirit. Horses, throughout history, have been potent symbols of strength, freedom, and even the untamed aspects of the human psyche. One thinks of the equestrian statues of Roman emperors, where the horse elevates the ruler, or the mythical centaurs, embodying the fusion of intellect and instinct. The horse's snout here reminds me of the recurring motif of animal heads, particularly horses, in Paleolithic cave paintings. In those times, these representations were not mere depictions but held profound symbolic importance, linking our ancestors to the natural world and its powers. The raw energy captured in Breitner’s sketch taps into this deep, subconscious understanding. This humble sketch resonates as a timeless echo of our primal connection to the animal kingdom.