Pégase 1951

Stanley William Hayter created this print, Pégase, using engraving and etching techniques. The process here is very evident: it's all about line, about action, about a kind of visual energy, isn’t it? The textures created by the etching are rough and layered, giving depth to the image, almost like a landscape. The linear elements and the way they interact with the blocks of color—the reds, greens and yellows—create a powerful tension. Check out the lines describing the horse's head, notice how they intersect and overlap; they almost vibrate with kinetic energy. It's like he's captured not just the form of the horse, but the very idea of flight, the potential for movement. Hayter's approach reminds me a lot of Picasso. There's a similar desire to break down forms and represent them in a new, dynamic way. In the end, art’s not just about showing what is, but about suggesting what could be.