Rider from behind 

Gaspare Diziani sketched "Rider from Behind," now at the Städel Museum, using pen and brown ink over pencil on paper. The composition, dominated by dynamic lines, captures a rider and horse from a rear perspective. The limited palette focuses attention on form and movement. Diziani's sketch embodies the dynamism and expressive freedom characteristic of the Rococo period. His loose, energetic lines convey a sense of spontaneity and immediacy, typical of preparatory sketches. The rider's posture and the horse's musculature are defined by rapid strokes, creating an illusion of movement and tension. Negative space is as important as the drawn elements, suggesting depth and airiness. This work destabilizes the traditional, academic approach to drawing. By prioritizing movement and expression over precise anatomical detail, Diziani challenges viewers to engage with the sketch not as a finished representation, but as an exploration of form. It's a study in how line alone can evoke powerful emotions, leaving viewers to imagine the narrative and context beyond the immediate sketch.