Schetsen van paarden, ruiter en landschap met boerderij 1840 - 1880

This is a pen and ink drawing by Johannes Tavenraat, featuring various sketches of horses, a rider, and a landscape with a farm. The horse, throughout history, has been a symbol of power, freedom, and nobility, and is a recurring motif that transcends cultures. Here, the rearing horse embodies vitality, evoking memories of similar powerful depictions, such as those found in ancient battle scenes. Consider the steeds in Paolo Uccello's "The Battle of San Romano," where the horse is also emblematic of chaotic energy and martial prowess. The horse falling on its back, however, disrupts this ideal, hinting at vulnerability or loss of control. The rider smoking a pipe on horseback evokes a sense of contemplation, contrasting with the wild energy of the other horses. Such juxtaposition invites us to reflect on the interplay between control and instinct, a dance as old as human civilization itself.