Twee trekpaarden, van bovenaf op de hals en rug gezien 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this drawing of two draft horses using graphite. The image presents a top-down view, focusing on the animals' necks and backs. The composition is defined by the lines which are economically rendered, quickly capturing the essence of the horses' forms with a striking immediacy. Mauve's use of line here is particularly interesting. Rather than seeking to create a realistic depiction, the varying line weights suggest the mass and volume of the animals, implying a dynamic interplay of light and shadow across their musculature. We might see in this the influence of contemporary interests in perception. The sparseness invites the viewer to actively participate in constructing the image, highlighting the artwork’s structural elements and questioning our understanding of representation. It's a delicate balance between suggestion and definition.