The Small Horse

Albrecht Dürer believed that the essence of true form, both human and equine, corresponded to a system of proportion and measurement. Order and harmony prevail in this print of a muscular, perfectly proportioned horse and his groom. The horse stands with his right foreleg raised in a pose that reveals the influence of ancient equestrian sculpture. The groom strides in unison with the horse, clearly in command of the animal that he has tamed. The architectural vault that contains the figures contributes to the sense of balance and control.