Man in pak en ruiter te paard before 2009

This color print by Aat Verhoog shows a man in a suit and tie standing next to a horse and rider. I love how simple and direct this print is. It’s really neat how the artist has arranged the figures. The guy in the suit looks a little bit like a wax figure—but I don't think that was Verhoog’s intention. I think what he’s doing is making it more about the composition and the forms. He’s simplifying everything to these basic shapes and colors. Imagine Verhoog in his studio, carefully carving out each layer of the print, figuring out how the colors will overlap. It's so physical, the textures emerge from the dance of ink and the surface. I find that the blue gingham saddle blanket is so evocative! It reminds me of other artists like Elizabeth Peyton and David Hockney, who capture everyday life with such simple lines and forms. They are all in conversation with one another and the history of art. They are saying to each other, ‘Hey, look what I’ve found! What do you think?'