Rocking Horse 1935 - 1942

Lucille Chabot rendered this watercolor painting of a Rocking Horse on paper. The composition is dominated by the brown hues of the rocking horse, which contrasts with the negative space of the plain white background. The texture, although painted, gives an almost sculptural form to the subject. Chabot’s detailed brushwork and the monochromatic palette draw our attention to the form of the horse itself. The artist presents the rocking horse as a signifier loaded with cultural meaning, a childhood icon stripped of color that makes us ponder its structural elements: the curves of the rockers, the rigid posture of the horse. What emerges here is not merely a depiction of a toy but an exploration into memory, childhood, and the material culture. Notice how Chabot uses light and shadow to define the contours of the horse, giving it a presence that is both familiar and enigmatic. This is a formal strategy that elevates the toy into an object of contemplation, inviting us to consider the interplay between representation and reality.