Binnenplaats met man te paard die een brief bezorgt aan een jonge vrouw 1848 - 1879

Jan Stobbaerts etched this courtyard scene showing a horseman delivering a letter to a young woman. The horse, a symbol of power and nobility, meets the humble courtyard, creating an interesting juxtaposition. The motif of delivering messages on horseback echoes through art history, from ancient Roman couriers to Renaissance paintings of messengers, signifying urgent news. Think, for example, of the Valkyries from Norse mythology, who ride winged horses, carrying messages from the battlefield to Valhalla. Notice the woman’s gesture as she accepts the letter, a universal gesture of reception, similar to depictions of the Annunciation, where Mary receives the divine message from the angel Gabriel. The exchange carries a palpable tension. Consider how Stobbaerts has captured a moment laden with potential – anticipation, anxiety, or hope – tapping into our collective memory of such encounters. These symbols are non-linear, cyclically progressing through art. Each reappearance offers a new layer of meaning, shaped by the historical and cultural context.