Two riding young men 

This is "Two riding young men," a sketch by Wilhelm Rietschel at the Städel Museum. The pale sienna lines on the off-white paper create a study in motion and form. The sketch captures two figures on horseback, each rendered with a dynamic energy that animates the scene. The riders, minimally detailed, are part of the sweeping lines defining the horses' bodies. Rietschel's marks oscillate between contour and volume, suggesting mass without closing the forms. This technique invites the viewer to complete the figures, thereby destabilizing the traditional figure-ground relationship. The composition, though simple, relies on the contrast between the static page and the implied movement of the horses. Consider how the sketch’s openness challenges traditional notions of representation. The forms dissolve into lines, questioning the limits of figuration. It remains a fascinating example of how line alone can evoke movement, volume, and the essence of form.