The horse is one of the most represented animals in art . Its representation goes back to prehistoric times. Paintings showing depictions of horses were found in caves several thousand years ago. This horse has been in contact with humans for a long time. Therefore, it is normal for it to be the most represented animal in art.
It then appears in the form of a painting , often in paintings representing soldiers or kings who had the privilege of riding horses . Then in the form of statues representing famous and important people .
Here we are concerned with its representation in contemporary art that has emerged from 1945 to the present . This artistic wave follows modern art.
CONTEMPORARY METAPHORS
Contemporary Italian painter Maurizio Cattelan (born 1960) interprets the horse image in his own way. As a contemporary provocateur, he often uses stuffed animals . His installation , The Ballad of Trotsky , is auctioned at Sotheby's New York for $2.1 million. The work mourns Trotsky's death and, more importantly, the collapse of his ideals. In the author's own words, the stuffed horse hanging from the ceiling represents a state of uncertainty, because it "expresses energy in a situation where it cannot apply force". A mighty animal is literally stuck in a completely helpless position between two worlds! He believes this absurd composition symbolizes the contradiction between purpose and the will of circumstances (a nod to Trotsky's ideals).
Today, the theme of horses remains relevant: their image carries a symbolism of the rapid and irreversible flight of time. And from the very beginning, the picture caused a lot of controversy, in which it was always mentioned that these horses did not exist. However, the artist claimed that he inherited this color from the ancient Russian icon painters: for example, on the icons of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael, the horse is depicted entirely in red.
HORSE STATUES
St. in Venice Mark 's Basilica is widely regarded as one of the finest ancient horse sculptures (3rd or 4th century BC). This is the only surviving example of an ancient multifigure sculpture - the cavalryman and indeed the Greek ideal of perfection. The creation of the Quadriga is attributed to Lysippos himself. One of the three most famous Greek sculptors of the time, the Greek sculptor knew horses very well – his sculptures, which can be seen today near the Parthenon in Athens, attest to his talent.
HORSES IN ABSTRACT ART
Abstract art spread into the 20th century, hence the same period as contemporary art. This movement often represents forms rather than trying to define reality.
Of course, this type of art also includes depictions of horses . Having a piece of abstract art in your home indicates a certain openness. It gives originality to the room in which it is installed and creates a break from reality.
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