Horse Head Hitching Post c. 1936

C.H. Hastings made this drawing of a horse head hitching post, and I can imagine him sketching it out on-site, or from memory later on. It’s a tonal drawing, so he’s using the pencil to hatch the tones, giving a real sense of the light falling on the horse’s head. I love the way that Hastings is interested in the functional and decorative aspects of the sculpture, and the drawing has a very honest, straightforward feel. It's a great reminder that even seemingly simple subjects can offer endless possibilities for exploration. The curves and contours, rendered with such care, remind me of the work of other artists like, say, Ellsworth Kelly, in his close looking at shape. There’s something very satisfying about the way the ring in the horse’s mouth interrupts the space; how it implies movement, or waiting, or wanting to move. I bet Hastings really enjoyed drawing this – I would have! It’s a reminder that we’re all in conversation with one another, borrowing ideas and keeping painting alive.