The artwork “Horse Market” by August Macke, created in 1908, belongs to the Expressionism movement. This sketch and study measure 12.2 x 20.8 cm. It showcases a scene of daily life, with several horses and figures that appear to be engaging at a horse market.
The sketch is quite minimalistic and swiftly rendered, capturing the bustling atmosphere of the scene using fluid, dynamic lines. There is a sense of movement in the way the horses and people are portrayed. The figures are sketched with varying levels of detail – some are mere outlines while others exhibit more definition, especially in the horses. The use of shading is sparse but effective, conjuring depth and mass with strategic strokes.
In the background, there’s a simplified depiction of the scenery – buildings and a horizon line that give context to the primary activity without drawing too much attention. The composition is casual, with the figures scattered across the page, evocative of the informal setting of a market. The artwork, overall, has a sketch-like quality, suggesting it may have been a preliminary work or a study capturing a moment in time.
