The WordPress Daily Prompt for today is lust. This dark and disturbing painting seemed an appropriate response. Here is what Tamsin Pickeral ,in her book ‘The Horse’, had to say about it.
” This disturbing Frenzy of Elations is often referred to as Insanity, a title that perhaps fits it better. The giant black stallion, a symbol of erotic lust and demonic potency, appears to fall, scrambling down the edge of a ravine, while a maiden, gripped in ecstatic rapture, clings to its muscled neck. The painting caused great controversy at first, but later came to be recognized as a significant example of the artistic right to self-expression.
I can see how in 1894, this kind of painting would have generated so much excitement and dissension. It’s interesting how much of what is acceptable as artistic expression has evolved since then.
I did not know that the black stallion symbolized erotic lust and demonic potency. I am curious to know if that “symbolization” applies to stallions generally or it’s just the giant black stallion. Great work!
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In real life stallions are just intact male horses that have to be handled carefully. They are not usually kept in stables near mares ( females) . Some stallions are very easy to handle and others can be a handful. In breeding stables the staff are usually skilled in handling them. I think in art stallions have often been seen as symbols of male potency, power, strength etc. Horses are large animals and it is easy to transfer this idea to a stallion. The same could be said of a bull but horses have a magic in the human imagination that is different from Bulls who are powerful but do not have the grace and speed of a horse. Thank you for your interesting comment !
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Interesting! I love these little did bits!
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This is one hell of an art piece! Just the expression on the woman, not least the horse! Thank you for sharing!
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yes it is! It seemed a good response to the Daily Prompt of “lust” . Thanks for your comment!
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So much meaning behind art.
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