Acht studies van paardenbenen en -hoeven 1835

This print of eight studies of horses' legs and hooves was made by Pieter Frederik van Os, sometime in the 19th century. Consider the role of the horse in 19th-century Dutch society: they were essential for agriculture, transport, and military endeavors. The detailed anatomical study of the horse, therefore, had practical applications. But it was also part of a broader cultural interest in natural history and scientific observation at this time. The Rijksmuseum itself, founded in 1800, played a role in shaping artistic standards and promoting national artistic identity. Did the piece promote conservative artistic traditions or challenge them? To understand the artwork better, we can investigate the training that artists received at the time, looking at academic drawing practices and the influence of the old masters. By exploring these sources, we can see the ways in which artists responded to the social and institutional context in which they lived.