Horse 1985

Editor: So, this is Bryan Kneale's "Horse" from the Tate collection. It's a large drawing, mostly in blues, depicting the skeletal and muscular structure of a horse. It's quite striking, almost haunting. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a commentary on power, and its inherent fragility. The horse, historically a symbol of strength and status, is stripped bare, revealing the vulnerable anatomy beneath. Consider how the use of blue, often associated with melancholia, further subverts expectations. What does this say about the romanticised notions of empire, class and masculinity so tightly bound to equestrianism? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't considered the symbolism of the horse in that light. I was mostly just thinking about the artistic skill. Curator: Exactly! It’s about deconstructing those power structures and understanding their implications. It makes you think about what it means to see an animal in art, and why we portray them a certain way. Editor: I'll definitely look at equine art differently from now on. Curator: I'm glad to hear it. It's all about questioning the established narrative.