rki.news
Source: Xinhua
Paris: France’s La Poste Group has issued two special stamps to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse. The stamps feature vibrant horses on a yellow background with red saddles, each portraying a unique style and mood.
One stamp depicts a leaping horse in a dynamic, energetic pose, intended for domestic mail in France with a face value of 2.25 euros (2.66 U.S. dollars). The other shows a calm horse turning its head, designed for international mail and valued at 1.52 euros (1.79 U.S. dollars).
The stamps were designed by Chen Jianghong, an artist of Chinese origin, who said the horse symbolizes strength and loyalty in Chinese culture. Using color, lines, and rhythm, he aimed to capture the animal’s sense of movement and freedom. Chen noted that the designs also reflect a cultural dialogue between civilizations: one inspired by the rearing horse in Napoleon-era paintings by French artist Jacques-Louis David, and the other echoing saddled horses depicted by Tang Dynasty Chinese painter Han Gan.
Jean-Paul Forceville, director of European and international relations at La Poste Group, described the stamps as collectible items and “a kind of diplomatic object,” celebrating friendship and stronger ties between France and China.
Since 2005, La Poste has issued stamps for each Chinese zodiac animal, honoring a centuries-old tradition that reflects the twelve animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.