Wooden Horses 

Ferdinand du Puigaudeau created "Wooden Horses" using oil on canvas. The composition is structured around the contrast between the illuminated carousel and the dark figures in the foreground, creating a sense of depth and drawing the viewer's eye toward the central spectacle. Puigaudeau uses a pointillist technique, applying small dots of color that optically blend to create a shimmering effect of light and movement. The carousel, with its swirling horses and festive canopy, is rendered with warm colors, evoking a sense of childhood wonder and joy. The figures surrounding the carousel are cloaked in dark tones, which creates a formal interplay between light and dark and perhaps alludes to an audience observing a spectacle, a division between participant and spectator. The artist challenges fixed meanings by positioning the viewer in a liminal space, both part of and separate from the vibrant scene. The semiotic system of signs employed here invites us to decode the cultural codes of spectacle, observation, and memory. Ultimately, "Wooden Horses" is an enduring image of how art engages with perception and cultural experience.