ineedhorses

take a seat!

This is a drawing of a Pinto Pony and a Water Serpent. It was done with tempera and graphite. The artist, Julian Martinez, is a Native American artist. While I don't know much about the significance of this piece, the simplicity and bright colors are striking. I wonder why the pony and water serpent are fighting. Maybe the pony stepped on the serpent's tail. Be careful when walking through a creek; you don't know what you might find.

This is a photograph of two girls riding their ponies in a suburban neighborhood in California. They ride casually in school uniforms as if they're just playing after school. These girls ride so casually that it leads me to believe that these ponies live in their backyards. This might be every girl's dream: to have her pony living in her backyard and be able to ride it after school with her friends.

This is a photograph of a child riding a horse in Japan. I think it's so interesting to see the different equipment used for horses around the world. I'm used to seeing the very American and European horse tack. This horse and rider seem to have almost matching outfits, with the boy's blue clothes matching the horse's fabric. Traditional Japanese saddles are often made out of wood and resemble Western saddles used in America. What I find most interesting is the designs on these saddles. In the fourth century AD, the Japanese started using horses in wars, so the designs on these saddles often reflect this. Often, the strength and power of soldiers. This is just the tip of the iceberg of Japanese tack; it has a rich history. Just like in Europe and America, the history of horses and their riders is endless.

This painting caught my eye. The bright red against the stark black of the horse is beautiful. This painting also has so much depth, the communist symbol on the flag, and the American symbolism of a cowboy. The rider falls back away from the flag; perhaps this is a critique of the very American fear of communism. This painting was made in 1986 by a British artist. This definitely adds to the criticism of the Red Scare that was so prevalent in the 80s.

This is a photograph by Richard Prince of a cowboy wrangling his horse. I love photos of cowboys because the cowboy-horse relationship is so beautiful. They're a working team, and the fact that humans have this relationship with animals is beautiful. Now, this cowboy seems to be struggling with his horse. Hopefully, they worked it out.

This is a print from the Illustrated Bartsch, a collection of old European master's prints. Essentially, a complete history book of art spanning over 400 years. This specific illustration was done by Hans Baldung. This piece stood out to me because of the intricate details. The careful hatching often seen in prints like these always leaves me in awe of the artists' talent.

This is an image, presumably from an anatomy book, marking the bones of a horse. This image caught my eye because I think the anatomy of horses is so interesting. Their hooves are basically fingernails, and they can run 30 mph on them. Also, their legs are mainly made of bone; they have very little muscle in their lower legs, and all the power is stored in their shoulders and flanks. I find it inspiring how fragile horses are, yet how powerful they are. They can kill a predator with a kick, but they will die if they lie down for too long.

This image is from the first example of chronophotography, which led to the development of movies. This could be considered the first movie in a way. This is also how people began to understand the strides of a horse at a full gallop. Before this, horses moved too fast, and we never knew if all four hooves ever left the ground. If you look at paintings of horses running, you can tell the artists didn't really know what they were meant to do. I love seeing all the awkward horses in older paintings.

Boy sitting on a horse smoking a cigarette at the Smithfield horse market in Dublin.

This photo is from a series documenting the horse market in Dublin. They drew me in because of the juxtaposition of the horse in an urban environment. I really like this one because of the boy. You can tell he feels truly at home on top of his pony.