Small Horse and Rider 1970

Curator: This is Dame Elisabeth Frink's "Small Horse and Rider," held within the Tate Collections. Editor: It's striking. The monochromatic palette and sparse lines create a sense of haunting fragility. Curator: Frink was interested in conveying primal energies and the essence of form. Her work often explores themes of power and vulnerability. Editor: The horse's anatomy is suggested rather than fully described, lending it an almost spectral quality. The rider is even more simplified, an anonymous figure. Curator: Consider the post-war context. The imagery of horses and riders, often associated with conflict and authority, takes on a different resonance. Frink frequently engaged with these themes. Editor: True, but the texture and composition also pull me in. The rough strokes add a tactile dimension, almost like a charcoal drawing on paper, despite being a print. Curator: Her work remains profoundly relevant, prompting us to confront enduring questions about humanity and its relationship to power structures. Editor: Indeed, it's a potent piece that lingers in the mind long after viewing.