Vornüber stürzendes Pferd samt Reiter 

This drawing by Johann Heinrich Hasselhorst depicts a horse and rider in mid-fall, a chaotic scene frozen in time. The motif of the falling horse carries a potent symbolism, echoing through art history as a representation of instability, defeat, or the unpredictable nature of fate. Consider the recurring image of the fallen horse in battle scenes throughout antiquity, a symbol of lost power and control. Even in more modern contexts, the motif persists; Picasso's Guernica, for instance, uses the image of a collapsing horse to express the trauma and chaos of war. The rearing and falling horse becomes a vessel for expressing intense emotional states—fear, panic, and the loss of control. It is this psychological tension that engages viewers on a subconscious level, tapping into our collective memories. The image evokes a visceral response, reminding us of the precariousness of existence and the ever-present potential for upheaval.