nature #185 Rien Poortvliet (1932-1995)

The artwork presents a group of horses in dynamic motion across a muted background. The composition is dominated by these animals, rendered in earthy tones – ochre, brown, and umber – that suggest both their natural habitat and the passage of time. Their musculature is clearly defined, conveying a sense of power and vitality as they surge forward.
The artist has employed loose brushstrokes and washes to create a textured surface, evoking a feeling of immediacy and spontaneity. The horses are not depicted with photographic realism; instead, theres an emphasis on capturing their essence – their wildness and untamed spirit. Their manes and tails flow freely, further enhancing the impression of movement.
The background is deliberately understated, appearing as a dark plane that serves to isolate and highlight the figures. This lack of detail directs the viewer’s attention entirely towards the horses themselves. The inclusion of text in what appears to be Dutch – referring to enormous wild horses thundering in the ice age over our land and “the wild horse came until the middle of the 10th century into East Europe” – provides a crucial contextual layer. This inscription establishes a narrative, grounding the image within a specific historical period: the Pleistocene epoch and subsequent centuries.
The subtext here extends beyond a simple depiction of animals; it speaks to themes of migration, survival, and the relationship between humans and nature. The horses’ movement suggests both escape and resilience – a primal urge to traverse landscapes and endure environmental challenges. The text reinforces this notion, hinting at a time when these creatures roamed freely across vast territories, potentially before significant human intervention.
The overall effect is one of melancholy beauty – a visual elegy for a lost era, where the wildness of nature held sway.