Rearing Horse c. 16th century

Curator: This etching, "Rearing Horse," comes to us from the workshop of Antonio Tempesta, who lived from 1555 to 1630. Editor: I’m immediately struck by the animal’s energy. It feels rebellious, almost as if it's pushing against some unseen constraint. Curator: Tempesta’s Roman artistic circle often explored themes of power and subjugation, with horses frequently symbolizing both. Editor: The cross-hatching feels so deliberate, like a cage constructed around the horse’s musculature. Is it meant to evoke something about the social role of equines? Curator: Perhaps, or maybe it’s a commentary on the nature of control, reflecting the societal structures of the time. Even the tail, curled so neatly, suggests domestication. Editor: So, viewing it through a modern lens, we might see a dialogue between freedom and constraint, agency and domination? Curator: Precisely. Tempesta's mastery makes this such a potent image for exploring those tensions.