Running Horses 1965

Tadashi Nakayama’s "Running Horses" is a print that captures a sense of dynamic energy through bold contrasts. The rhythm of these horses is all about how those curving black and white shapes lock together, creating a forward momentum that is so immediate. There’s something about the texture here that gets me. The way the black ink sits on the page gives it a tactile quality. It’s like you could almost feel the movement of the horses if you ran your hand across the surface. Look at the silver lines on the horses, the suggestion of the mane and tail—it’s a masterclass in mark-making, suggesting form with so few details. Each of those marks feels so considered. I’m reminded of Italian Futurist painter, Umberto Boccioni, who was also interested in speed and motion. Like Boccioni, Nakayama uses abstraction to evoke feeling. It reminds us that art isn’t about depicting reality but about creating an experience.