Voor een kar gespannen paard in een bos 1848 - 1888

This drawing by Anton Mauve presents a horse harnessed to a cart in a forest, rendered with charcoal on paper. The drawing’s stark composition is immediately striking. Sparse lines sketch out the horse and its surroundings. This minimal approach directs our attention to the essential forms. Mauve masterfully uses charcoal to create depth and texture. The horse is rendered with smudges and hatching, giving it a solid, almost sculptural presence, whilst the trees in the background are suggested with the barest of strokes, creating a sense of distance and atmosphere. This interplay between solidity and ethereality creates a visual tension. The drawing challenges our perception of space and form. It reminds us that representation is not about mimicry but about the artist’s interpretation of reality through a deliberate manipulation of line and tone. In its very incompleteness, the artwork invites viewers to actively engage with its visual language.