Carousel Horse (Study) 1938

This is Elizabeth Moutal's "Carousel Horse (Study)." It offers us a study of form and color, rendered with the free, gestural quality of watercolor. The initial impression is one of lightness, almost ethereality. The horse, depicted in profile, is structured by delicate washes of grey. These hues create a sense of volume and depth, while the smattering of reds, yellows, and greens provide a chromatic counterpoint. Note how Moutal uses line sparingly, allowing the colors to bleed and blend, suggesting the play of light on the carved surface of the carousel horse. The sketch destabilizes the traditional notions of representation, it privileges the act of seeing and recording over a precise rendering. The visible brushstrokes and color swatches to the side further emphasize the process of artistic exploration. Through its formal qualities, the artwork highlights the provisional and subjective nature of perception. It invites us to consider how we construct meaning through the interplay of color, form, and gesture.