Polo, Plate B 1927

This is ‘Polo, Plate B’ by Kerr Eby, an etching, so made by scratching lines into a metal plate, then using acid to deepen them so they will hold ink. You can really see Eby’s hand in the frantic, scratchy mark making here. The subject matter is, of course, a polo match, but what I find so interesting is the way the composition is divided between the blurry mass of the crowd in the background, and the dynamism of the horses and riders in the foreground. See how the horses seem to blend into one another, a flurry of legs and hooves, all rendered with these tiny, nervous lines? It’s almost as if Eby is trying to capture the raw energy and chaos of the game itself. This reminds me of some of the Futurist painters, like Boccioni, who were obsessed with speed and movement. Like them, Eby seems less interested in representing the scene realistically, and more interested in conveying a sense of pure, unbridled action. It’s a celebration of speed, energy, and the thrill of the game.