Amazone mit Pferd. Studie zur _Amazonenschlacht_ in Burg Drove 1911 - 1912

Heinrich Nauen made this drawing, Amazone mit Pferd. Studie zur Amazonenschlacht in Burg Drove, a study for an “Amazon Battle”, with chalk on paper. It’s all about the making for me. You can see how Nauen is working through the idea, trying to capture movement and energy, without getting bogged down in detail. I love the way the colors feel both grounded and totally off-kilter. The red of the horse against the pale, almost ghostly figure of the Amazon, creates a tension that vibrates across the whole picture plane. Look at the way he’s used these chalky strokes, layering them to build up the form but also leaving these lovely, accidental marks that give it so much life. Especially around the horse's head, where the yellow haloes create an almost psychedelic effect. It reminds me a bit of Delacroix, but with a modern twist. Like he's channeling that same romantic energy but through a more fractured, expressionistic lens. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, a constant reinterpretation of the themes and ideas that have always obsessed us.