Lot 235 D

The “Tänzelndes Pferd”, surely Mataré’s most famous horse sculpture, is distinguished by its buoyant, playful elegance. The gracefulness and lightness of the dynamic, slender limbs and S-shaped curve of its body stand in contrast to the often weightier, down-to-earth forms of his animal sculptures.
This work was preceded by a version in cedar, which the artist created in the same year for Eberbach Abbey (cf. Schilling/de Werd 258). The charm of this carved piece lies in the distinctive grain of the wood, while the presented bronze version is distinguished by the supple smoothness which further underscores the flowing forms of the animal.
As usual, Mataré did not have his eye on any particular horse and has instead captured the general, essential nature of these animals. Through their reduction to that which is universally valid, his animal sculptures acquire significance on a spiritual level, beyond pure representation. The artist translates naturalistic observation into an elegant image distilled down to an ornament. The additional reference to this work as “Chinesisches Pferd” also points to this ornamental character.
The manner of execution, not least the precise chasing of the mane, leads to the conclusion that the work was cast during the artist's lifetime.