McLellan Saddle 1938

Editor: This is Walter Praefke’s "McLellan Saddle" from 1938, rendered in charcoal and pencil. There's something quite beautiful about how it captures the textures and forms of a well-used saddle. What draws your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, it whispers stories of open plains, doesn't it? You can almost smell the leather and feel the horse's movement. The beauty for me lies in how Praefke elevates a functional object to art. It's not just about accurate representation, but also the poetics of everyday life. Does it spark any personal connections for you? Editor: I guess I think about riding horses. How he focuses on the details—each strap and buckle—gives it this weight of history, a life lived, maybe. The lighting, too; there's a gentle play of light that lends a quiet drama. Curator: Precisely! It's a portrait, in a way. A portrait not of a person, but of a relationship—the one between a rider and their horse, mediated by this very saddle. Have you considered the perspective? Almost like we are about to mount this horse. Do you feel invited, challenged or like an interloper? Editor: That’s an interesting thought; I never considered the implied presence of the viewer, especially with this angle! I'm thinking about what this image might mean, then. Curator: Art often transcends mere depiction, inviting us into conversations—sometimes literal, sometimes internal—about what we see and how we relate. Do you find that Praefke challenges or confirms conventional expectations of artwork with this image? Editor: I guess it confirms them but subtly subverts it by choosing this object? It makes me see things differently; I never really considered saddles before! I appreciate how your perspective allows me to see a whole new layer of meaning that I overlooked! Curator: Indeed. Every artwork holds countless perspectives, each offering unique discoveries about both the art and ourselves.