Paard 1923 - 1925

This bronze statue by Saar de Swart depicts a horse, although it's not immediately obvious. It kind of looks like a person dressed up in robes! I can imagine the artist carefully modeling the clay, perhaps starting with a rough sketch and then gradually adding detail. I bet she enjoyed the tactile quality of the material, how it yields to the touch, allowing for both precision and happy accidents. Those folds in the robe might have been a place for her to really play with texture and form. The choice of bronze gives the sculpture a sense of solidity and permanence. I can see a dialogue here between the artist and the material, each influencing the other as the work takes shape. Even though it looks like a horse, the human qualities of the figure and their cloak are what interest me most. This reminds me of how artists throughout history have drawn inspiration from one another, building on the ideas of the past to create something new.