Two Horses Cavorting (recto); Man on a Kicking Horse (verso) 1778 - 1836

Carle Vernet's sketch, "Two Horses Cavorting", presents us with a lively scene rendered with a delicate touch. The horses, sketched in graphite, seem to leap off the page, their energy palpable through the artist's confident lines. Vernet captures the essence of motion and musculature using the most economical of means. The composition, seemingly spontaneous, directs our eyes in a dynamic dance around the figures. We might consider this work through the lens of structuralism, noting how Vernet reduces the horses to their essential forms, creating a semiotic system where each line signifies movement, tension, and vitality. The lack of background is also significant. By focusing solely on the horses, Vernet challenges the traditional figure-ground relationship, asking us to consider the subjects not in relation to their environment, but as self-contained expressions of dynamic form. Ultimately, this is not merely a depiction of horses; it's an exploration of line, form, and the very idea of animalistic energy.