Havhesten, uden hale 1912

Niels Skovgaard made this bronze sculpture "Havhesten, uden hale" - that's "The Seahorse, without a tail" in Danish - and I love how he builds up the form with these soft, almost buttery marks. Looking at the texture, the surface has a really tactile quality; it’s easy to imagine Skovgaard’s hands working the clay. It seems like he wasn't trying to hide his process. I love that you can see the marks, the ridges and valleys made while he worked. Look how the light catches on the horse’s mane! The whole sculpture has this kind of glow about it. The heavy proportions feel very modern, almost cartoonish; it reminds me a little of the work of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt in the way it plays with exaggerated and emotional forms. For me, this little seahorse is a reminder that art is always a conversation.