Horse head 

Hans Thoma's "Horse Head," now at the Städel Museum, presents us with a primal image rendered simply in pencil. The horse, a long-standing symbol of power, virility, and untamed nature, stares out with a quiet intensity, its gaze both innocent and knowing. Consider how the horse, from the steeds of ancient Greek gods to the warhorses of medieval knights, carries connotations of strength and freedom. This image echoes through time and space, as the horse motif gallops through the cave paintings of Lascaux and Renaissance battle scenes. The white blaze on the horse's face might remind us of the wayfinding spirit—the light through darkness. The horse archetype carries a psychological weight, reflecting our innermost drives and instinctive impulses. It’s a force that has been present in our collective consciousness from time immemorial, reappearing and reinventing itself across epochs.