Man Pulling a Horse into a Stall 1918

John Singer Sargent made this drawing of a man pulling a horse into a stall with graphite on paper. It's all about the mark making in this piece, the way a simple line can suggest so much about movement and form. The texture of the paper is crucial here; it grabs the graphite, creating a broken line, a visual shorthand. Look at the horse’s hindquarters. See how those quick, confident strokes give a sense of weight and muscle? And then the almost scribbled lines suggesting the straw on the floor. It's not about perfection, it's about capturing a moment, an action. There’s a real sense of immediacy, like Sargent was right there, sketching as it happened. Compare this to Degas’ drawings of horses, which have a similar interest in movement and form but a different kind of energy. Art isn't about answers, it's about conversations, questions, and explorations.