Claude, two years old, and his hobby horse 1949

Painted in 1949 by Pablo Picasso, this artwork portrays his son Claude with a hobby horse. A horse, throughout history, has been a symbol of virility, power, and triumph. Since antiquity, equestrian statues of emperors and kings served as potent symbols of authority. This image invites us to consider the horse not merely as a status symbol, but as a primal connection to childhood vitality and unbridled freedom. Here, Picasso revisits the motif, stripping it down to its most innocent form: a child's toy. Notice how the horse, though inanimate, seems to possess a life of its own, mirroring the boundless energy of youth. The hobby horse, with its simple form, harkens back to ancient rituals of fertility and the potent, life-affirming force of play. It is a reminder of how symbols evolve. What once represented imperial might now embodies the pure joy of childhood.