Horses

Art Historical Context

**Horses** by Sol H. Borglum invites visitors into the dynamic world of American Western art through a simple yet evocative drawing. Created around the turn of the 20th (date not specified), this work from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—generously gifted by Mr. and Mrs. A. Mervyn Daviescenters on the noble form of horses, a recurring motif in Borglum's. As a sculptor and draftsman, Borglum (1868–1922) masterfully captured the raw energy and anatomy of animals, reflecting his deep fascination with the American frontier. The medium of drawing holds special significance here, likely serving as a preparatory study for Borglum's renowned bronze sculptures. His precise lines and fluid contours demonstrate techniques honed at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and through his establishment of the Borglum School of Sculpture in New York. Horses symbolized freedom, power, and the pioneering spirit in early 20th-century America, making this piece a window into cultural ideals of the era. Housed in the Smithsonian's Department of Drawings, **Horses** exemplifies the museum's commitment to preserving intimate works that reveal an artist's process. Whether you're a horse enthusiast or art lover, it reminds us how a single sketch can gallop across time, evoking the untamed West. (198 words)