Paard van opzij gezien 1820 - 1833

Curator: Just the whisper of graphite on paper and there he is, this graceful steed conjured by Roelof van der Meulen between 1820 and 1833. It's entitled, "Paard van opzij gezien," or, "Horse Seen From the Side," and it now resides here at the Rijksmuseum. What’s your first impression? Editor: A kind of wistful loneliness. All that open space around it amplifies its isolation, its quiet dignity. It's as if the horse is carrying the weight of unspoken stories in its posture, and maybe, in that vacant expanse, a symbol for the lonely romantic hero? Curator: That loneliness you perceive is quite palpable. But to my eye it also reads as anticipation. This horse, portrayed in profile, is caught between stillness and potential movement, pregnant with intent, isn’t it? I sense all the energy it has stored beneath the surface. Editor: Perhaps that anticipatory quality is about the historical moment in which it was created; that is, a post-Napoleonic Netherlands in transition, finding its footing amidst a changing Europe, and its echoes can be felt in the latent power held within that graphite outline. I can't help but see equestrian symbols tied into the iconography of war, and the long road ahead in that respect... Curator: Very true. Horses, especially in portraiture, became associated with status and military prowess in this period. The drawing itself seems so unassuming but Van der Meulen's economy of line is masterful. The paper provides a perfect backdrop for his restrained detailing that speaks volumes. Editor: Exactly. Horses themselves have become totemic stand-ins in so many traditions for power, strength and freedom of movement—particularly as they stand against that empty landscape. The artist creates almost a blank canvas upon which to inscribe such hopes. Do you find the simplicity distracting or adding to the artwork’s appeal? Curator: Definitely adding to the appeal! The openness lends a contemplative aura. Maybe this drawing functions almost like a study, enabling Van der Meulen to achieve precision and elegance by using only what is necessary and meaningful. It achieves some purity. Editor: Yes, it lets me, in my mind's eye, project anything I want, both from the future and distant memories onto the animal's form. A space opens for quiet, imaginative play. Thanks for allowing me to stop and contemplate this image more fully.