Ceremonieel danspaard before 1942

Reijer Stolk made this ceremonial dancing horse—at an unknown date—with ink on paper. Imagine Stolk hunched over his desk, carefully inking this little horse. The image is spare, but lively. I wonder if it was a study for something bigger, or if this was it? There's something so beautiful about these simple forms, the repetition of the flower shapes, the strange almost architectural nature of the horse's body. Is it a toy? Is it a symbol? It reminds me of the work of children, but also of Paul Klee. That red bridle against the black is great—it really pops. It gives a playful energy to the work. You can almost see the horse dancing. Anyway, it’s a good reminder that art doesn't always have to be big to be powerful. Sometimes the smallest gestures can say the most.