Paardendressuur 1698 - 1752

Charles Parrocel created this drawing, "Paardendressuur", with chalk on paper. The composition immediately strikes us with its subtle tonal range, dominated by the pale hues of the horse against a muted background. This limited palette focuses our attention on the form and the lines that define the figures. Notice how the verticality of the wooden pillars splits the composition, disrupting a complete view of the horse and creating a sense of spatial ambiguity. Parrocel, working in a period defined by rigid courtly customs, seems to explore the themes of control and performance. The horse, depicted mid-prance, symbolizes energy and raw power. However, it is also confined by the discipline of dressage. The sketch presents a play between natural vitality and imposed order, mirroring the broader social structures of the time. Consider how the texture of the chalk adds a softness, almost a dreamlike quality to the scene. It invites us to question whether we are observing a moment of genuine skill or a constructed facade. This piece encourages ongoing interpretation, reflecting a tension between freedom and constraint.