Pair of soldiers on horseback; China, Han dynasty, 202 BC-220 AD.

Pair of soldiers on horseback; China, Han dynasty, 202 BC-220 AD.
Terracotta with traces of polychrome.
Measurements: 26,5 x 29 x 9,5 cm.
Pair of soldiers on horseback, belonging to the China of the dynasty modeled in terracotta with remains of polychrome. These figures are part of a vast corpus of funerary sculptures that reflect the social, military and spiritual complexity of the Han period. The modeling of the pieces reveals a sober and expressive style, characteristic of Han funerary art. The figures are represented with compact and simplified forms, prioritizing volume and presence over anatomical detail. The horses, with robust bodies and upright necks, express strength and stability, while the riders, with reduced proportions and schematic gestures, suggest serenity and discipline. The remains of polychrome, particularly visible in reddish and white tones, indicate that the sculptures were originally richly painted, which would have conferred greater realism and vitality to the composition.
The Han dynasty ruled China between 206 B.C. and 220 A.D., more than four centuries during which the political, social and economic structures of China were consolidated, leading the country to the most glorious stage of its history. Regarding the art of this time, it is still eminently funerary, although it reflects the very high artistic level that will be reached both in the capitals and in the provinces. These preserved objects provide us with information on the daily life and customs of the time, since the art becomes much more mundane than the bronzes of the Zhou and Shang periods. The structures of the tombs also changed: the Shang tombs were vertical, while the Han tombs were built as subway palaces. They were decorated with reliefs stamped with scenes from the life of the deceased, and a new material was incorporated as an artistic support, lacquer. However, the most famous today is the production of Han ceramics, in terracotta and decorated with cold-applied engobes, mainly black and red.