Bakwame Coursenrijders / Les habiles Coursiers 1866 - 1902

Franciscus Antonius Beersmans created "Bakwame Coursenrijders / Les habiles Coursiers", using lithography to capture a scene of dynamic motion. Notice how Beersmans uses line and form to create a sense of speed. The composition is structured around the horizontal movement of the horses, emphasized by their stretched bodies and the riders leaning forward. There's a visual rhythm established through the repetition of the horses and riders, pushing the eye from left to right. However, this is destabilized through the horses positions, their legs elongated in unnatural poses. This lithograph isn't simply about depicting a horse race; it's about capturing a feeling. By distorting reality, Beersmans communicates the intense energy and excitement of the race. The horses are more than just animals; they are signs of power, speed, and the thrill of competition. This work can be re-interpreted through each new viewing, its forms evoking a sense of movement.