Colt Hunting in the New Forest 1897

Curator: Lucy Kemp-Welch's monumental painting, "Colt Hunting in the New Forest," now residing here at the Tate, captures quite the dramatic scene. Editor: My goodness, it does! It feels like stepping into a dream, a sort of heroic, nostalgic yearning. What year was it made? There's something about that vast scale that makes it feel important. Curator: The date of its creation is unknown, but Kemp-Welch, born in 1869, certainly understood the symbolism of horses, and here she seems to invoke their very spirit of freedom. Note how the riders pursue, but the horses remain untamed. Editor: Yes, that tension is palpable. The dynamism, the sweat, the raw energy—but the horses, even as they flee, possess such an untamed heart. Perhaps that's the point? We're always running, chasing after something… Curator: Indeed. The painting becomes a mirror, reflecting our own pursuits and the eternal dance between control and freedom. Editor: A chase scene etched in memory, forever galloping across the subconscious.