Man on Horseback and Horse's Legs c. 1873 - 1875

Curator: This is William Rimmer's "Man on Horseback and Horse's Legs," an evocative graphite sketch held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a nervous energy to the line work; it almost vibrates off the page. Curator: Rimmer was fascinated by anatomy, and this work explores the dynamic tension between human and animal. The horse traditionally symbolizes power and virility, but here it feels constrained. Editor: That massive, disembodied leg looms like a judgment. Equestrian statues typically celebrate triumph; this feels more like latent anxiety about control. Curator: Indeed. The unfinished quality only amplifies the sense of unease. Editor: Ultimately, the sketch’s raw energy captures the ambiguous nature of symbolic representations. Curator: Precisely, a powerful statement, even in its incompleteness.