Carousel Horse

c. 1939

George Constantine

Artist, American, c. 1895 - 1995

A carousel horse is drawn in graphite, colored pencil, and watercolor against a cream-white board in this horizontal illustration. The rendering is so detailed that at first (and even second) glance, it appears to be a photograph of the three-dimensional object. The white horse’s head is to the right, and its thick white mane blows back. Lines across the horse’s body suggest that the wood has split or it has been repaired over time. Traces of red, blue, pink, and yellow paint decorate the horse’s body where a blanket might lie across the back. Reins lead back from the horse’s parted lips and blocky teeth to reach the long, padded, dark gray seat. The stirrup we see emerges from the horse’s side. All four legs are lifted and hooves point lightly down and back.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard

  • Credit Line

    Index of American Design

  • Dimensions

    overall: 40.5 x 55.7 cm (15 15/16 x 21 15/16 in.)
    Original IAD Object: 49" Long 56" High

  • Accession

    1943.8.8024


Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1995

  • Wood and Wood Carving from the Index of American Design, Pensacola Museum of Art, 1995, no cat.

2019

  • Outliers and American Vanguard Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 28 Jan 2018-13 May 2018; High Museum of Art, Atlanta 24 Jun 2018-30 Sep 2018; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 18 Nov 2018-18 Mar 2019, cat. 3.

Bibliography

2018

  • Cooke, Lynne. Outliers and American Vanguard Art. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; Los Angeles County Museum, 2018: 133, no. 3.

Wikidata ID

Q64571316


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