Gezadeld paard 1848 - 1888

Editor: This is "Gezadeld Paard", or "Saddled Horse," a pencil drawing by Anton Mauve, created sometime between 1848 and 1888. It’s at the Rijksmuseum now. I’m struck by how economical the lines are; it’s almost like a shorthand for a horse and saddle. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s interesting that you point out the economy of line. Mauve, working during a period of rapid social and technological change, would have been acutely aware of the changing role of the horse in society. This isn’t a portrait of a powerful warhorse or a racing animal, is it? Editor: No, not at all. It's quite… ordinary, almost humble. Curator: Precisely. This pencil sketch suggests a shift. The horse is presented as a working animal, part of the Dutch landscape, a common sight rather than a symbol of aristocratic power. This shift reflects broader socio-economic transformations occurring in the Netherlands during the 19th century, doesn’t it? Editor: Yes, it does! With industrialization, the horse's role was changing from transport for the elite to farm and industry work. Is the looseness of the sketch commenting on that too, maybe? Less formal, less idealized? Curator: Exactly! And consider the Rijksmuseum itself. Its founding coincides with the rise of national identity and the desire to collect and display art reflecting that identity, this drawing included. Do you see how the depiction of the working horse fits into a narrative of Dutch industry and identity? Editor: I hadn't thought about that explicitly, but now it's obvious! It’s not just a drawing of a horse, it's about everyday life. Curator: Indeed. It highlights the transition into modernity, seen through the lens of a seemingly simple drawing. It's about a changing world captured in a humble animal sketch, an artistic genre that connects ordinary people with their identity. Editor: That’s really changed how I see it! It is way more than a quick sketch. Thank you!