Ruiter met steigerend paar naar links bij een aquaduct 1669 - 1717

Dirk Maas created this etching of a horse and rider in the Netherlands sometime around the turn of the 18th century. The rider’s mastery of the rearing horse is a clear display of power and authority. In Dutch art of this period, equestrian portraits were a popular way for the elite to signal their status. The grand aquaduct in the background further emphasizes the wealth and sophistication of the scene. But it is important to remember that the Dutch Golden Age was also a time of great social inequality, with a wealthy merchant class benefiting from global trade and colonial exploitation, and the display of status in the arts was often meant to project authority. To fully understand this image, we might consult historical records of Dutch trade and social structure. By placing the work in its social and institutional context, we can better understand its meaning and significance.