Springende ruiter 1975

Aat Verhoog made this etching of a jumping horse and rider, called 'Springende ruiter', with incredible economy of line, almost like a memory being sketched. It's so spare, you know? The paper is almost empty, yet the tension is palpable, all located in the careful pressure of the line. The horse seems to float across the surface, its form emerging from the white ground, and the rider, hunched tight, so focused, yet drawn with a lightness, a kind of swift confidence. Look closely, and you can see the artist's hand, the way the lines vary in thickness and direction, giving a sense of movement. The texture of the paper adds to that feeling, creating a subtle vibration. It reminds me of drawings by Degas, who was also obsessed with horses, but without the colour, the gesture is even more direct. It’s that directness, the sheer simplicity, that makes it so affecting. It feels so alive, that horse and rider really are flying, for a moment.