Georges Seurat
1859-1891
The Black Horse
1882
9 3/8 x 12 3/8 inches (238 x 314 mm)
Black Conté crayon.
2011.29
Thaw Collection.
Notes
Partial watermark: shield (countermark) of MICHALLET; note: the sheet is 1/4 of a Royal-sized sheet of MICHALLET.
During the first half of the 1880s, Seurat produced nearly four hundred drawings using the textured paper and velvety Conté crayon seen in this early example. The contrast between the horse's silhouetted body and the surrounding exposed paper creates a radiant effect, exploiting the potential of the materials and reflecting the artist's interest in defining form through differences in tone and value. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
During the first half of the 1880s, Seurat produced nearly four hundred drawings using the textured paper and velvety Conté crayon seen in this early example. The contrast between the horse's silhouetted body and the surrounding exposed paper creates a radiant effect, exploiting the potential of the materials and reflecting the artist's interest in defining form through differences in tone and value. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
Inscriptions/Markings
Inscription on verso, in red crayon, "2 S (OR 5) 6 / Seurat / S".
Associated names
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Bibliography
The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY, "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection", 2017. Exh. cat., no. 357, repr.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department