Artwork
Man on a Horse
Man on a Horse is a photography by the Impressionist artist Nadar. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1996.336
- Credit line
- Gift of Robert Hershkowitz and Charles Isaacs
About this work
Overview
Man on a Horse is a rare equestrian photograph by Nadar, created between 1860-61, characterized by its meticulously staged composition and early photographic techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph depicts an unidentified, elegantly dressed gentleman on horseback, posed in front of a painted backdrop of a walled garden, capturing a moment of refined, static elegance.
Technique & Style
Employing the wet collodion negative process, Nadar achieved sharp definition by having both subject and horse remain motionless for minutes, resulting in a blend of photographic clarity and painterly softness, with pronounced chiaroscuro effects.
History & Provenance
Created during a transitional period for Nadar, while awaiting the completion of his new Boulevard des Capuchins studio, the photograph represents an experimental phase in his work.
Artist & collection
Artist
French photographer who made sharp, era-defining portraits in the 1850s–70s. You’ll meet Man on a Horse from the 1860s, a sitter caught mid-gallop against Parisian skies, and the 1856 portrait of composer Gioachino…
Untitled: Woman on horse (verso, right)
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