Solon H. Borglum, born Ogden, UT - Horse and Rider - n.d. - T-Shirt

A brown pencil study of a figure resting against a bridled horse, drawn in graphite on aged, torn paper.

Visual Elements & Composition

Cream paper fills most of the sheet, and sepia graphite carries every line. The horse sits at the centre, facing right with its head turned back toward the viewer. A figure in a close-fitting coat and cap leans into the animal's side, one arm laid across its back. A second horse appears at upper left in lighter strokes, and faint forms of other animals fade across the right. In the lower right, a separate study of a pointing hand adds a note of gesture to the sheet.

Meaning & Symbolism

The pose is quiet: the figure stands close and rests its weight against the shoulder, which reads as handling or waiting rather than movement. The lighter second horse and the fading forms place the main pair in a wider working setting, a subject that recurs throughout Western and animal art. Solon Borglum (1868-1922) was an American sculptor born in Ogden, Utah, known for bronze animal and Western subjects. He worked for many years in Paris and was the younger brother of Gutzon Borglum. This study reflects his attention to the bond between rider and mount, where the horse is always seen in the company of people.

On the Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee

The drawing rewards a close look, and a tee keeps it in view at exactly that range. The figure and horse sit across the chest, so the eye settles on the pair first, then drifts to the second horse and the hand study as you move. Worn, the sheet's faded edges and quiet sepia lines read as an intimate sketch rather than a large scene.