Solon H. Borglum, born Ogden, UT - Horses' Heads - n.d. - T-Shirt

A small graphite pencil study of two horses' heads, one overlapping the other, with a bridle or rein drawn diagonally between them on cream paper.

Visual Elements & Composition

The drawing is built from warm parchment cream and soft graphite grey, with a few darker accents that sharpen the eyes and ears. The larger head sits at the left, turned toward the viewer with its muzzle low, while a second head rises at the right and partly overlaps it. Loose, broken contour lines and light hatching along the neck describe the forms, and short looping strokes trace the rein as it crosses the composition. The sheet has irregular, cropped edges, and the lines fade toward the bottom of the page, so the eye settles on the heads at the top.

Meaning & Symbolism

Solon Hannibal Borglum (1868 to 1922) was an American sculptor born in Ogden, Utah, who trained in Paris under the animalier Emmanuel Frémiet. Head studies were central to an animal sculptor's practice, because the expression and structure of a horse's head carry much of its character. Placing two heads together lets the artist compare angles and proportions and record how a bridle or harness pulls across the form. The sheet is a working record made to clarify shape, not a finished image, and it reflects the preparatory work behind Borglum's well-known horse sculptures.

On the Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee

A study like this rewards a close look, and a tee keeps the drawing at chest level, where the overlapping heads and the crossing rein can be read as the artist intended. The horses face the wearer in a natural, eye-level view, so the design reads clearly across the front of the shirt as you move through the day.