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Two archers on horseback
From the collection of National Museum of Asian Art (Freer/Sackler). Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This small album leaf presents a peculiar depiction of both riders and horses. The minimal detail given to the almost faceless rider in front and to the headless horse in back emphasizes the composition's awkwardness, which is heightened by the unnatural parallels formed by the horses' front legs. Moreover, the ambiguous spatial arrangement of the two horses and the feeble brushwork may very well suggest that this piece is a simple practice exercise from the hand of an enthusiastic painting student.
National Museum of Asian Art (Freer/Sackler)’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineTwo archers on horseback. 18th century. National Museum of Asian Art (Freer/Sackler), Gift of Charles Lang Freer. CC0.