Horse Hobble c. 1941

Rose Campbell-Gerke made this beautiful watercolour and graphite drawing of a horse hobble, sometime during her long life that spanned almost a century! I can just imagine her carefully observing every detail: the way the light catches the worn leather, the intricate knots, the delicate rose decorations. There's a real tenderness in the way she's rendered these humble materials, elevating something functional into something beautiful. It reminds me how so much of painting is about close looking, and the attention we bring to objects in the world. There’s a tactile quality here, a desire to capture the essence of this object, its history and purpose. Artists are always in conversation with each other, reaching across time and space with their own observations of the world. We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before, inspired by their vision and ingenuity.