Horses Exercising
1821
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1821
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a man riding a horse in mid-gallop, both moving fast. The horse’s muscles bulge under its sweat-streaked coat, and its hooves kick up dust. The rider sits upright, gripping the reins, while the horse’s mane and tail whip in the wind. In the background, a building with columns stands empty, and the sky is faint but dramatic. The artist focused on motion—every line seems to blur slightly, like the horse is barely touching the ground. This was made as a quick study, not a finished painting. If you like this style, look up lithography to see how artists made prints like this.
