Paard met een gebroken voet 1708 - 1767

Editor: Here we have "Horse with a Broken Foot," an etching and engraving by Johann Elias Ridinger, dating from around 1708 to 1767. It's got a definite Baroque feel. What I notice is this very busy composition, like everyone in the scene has somewhere to be, or some story to tell. How do you read a piece like this? Curator: Ah, yes. This feels like a little slice of life served with a wink and a nudge, doesn't it? You know, Ridinger was renowned for his depictions of animals, and I suspect he's inviting us to reflect not just on the horse's misfortune, but on our own. This isn’t simply genre painting; notice how carefully he frames the action, almost as if staging a play. Does the posture of those figures to the right, clustered like gossiping town elders, suggest anything to you? Editor: Hmm, it makes me think there's definitely more going on here than just a poor horse with an injury. Maybe they are debating its fate? Or perhaps the story behind the accident itself? Curator: Precisely! And it is up to us to fill in those blanks. Isn't it marvelous how much narrative tension he creates with such delicate lines? It's almost as though he’s saying, "Life, like this etching, is full of shadows and secrets, but also unexpected moments of... what shall we call it... tragicomic beauty?" And perhaps a reminder to treat all beings with a bit more empathy. Editor: It really does give a lot to think about. It's amazing to me how much storytelling can be packed into a single print. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. I think I might visit the stables after this and give a horse a carrot, or two. Just in case they've also had a tough day, you know?