Jutta 1834 - 1872

Fritz Thomsen painted "Jutta" using oil on canvas sometime in the 19th century. The sleek and elegant figure of the horse, Jutta, emerges from the stable, revealing the artist's adept control of his medium. Thomsen skillfully uses thin layers of oil paint to create a smooth surface, capturing the horse’s muscular form with detailed precision. Observe how each brushstroke merges seamlessly to bring out the natural sheen of its coat and the texture of the stable's wooden door. The smooth rendering is in contrast with the natural subject, hinting at the societal importance of labor and craftsmanship in the making of art, mirroring the careful grooming and training essential to the world of equestrianism. The painting's emphasis on detailed realism and composition invites us to consider the labor invested in both the artistic process, and the labor of the horse depicted, blurring the lines between craft, representation, and the socio-economic context of 19th century equestrian culture.