Solon H. Borglum, born Ogden, UT - Station - n.d. - T-Shirt

A pen and ink street scene from the hand of sculptor Solon Borglum, centred on a horse-drawn carriage at a busy public station.

Visual Elements & Composition

The artwork is drawn in dark ink on pale cream paper, with the ink reading as near-black against the warm ground. A large enclosed carriage with a spoked rear wheel sits at the centre, its driver perched on top. Beside it, a standing man in a hat and long coat anchors the middle of the scene, while a second figure lingers near a row of crates at left. At right, two women in long skirts and wide-brimmed hats stand close together, a harnessed horse just behind them. Hatching defines the shadows on the carriage and clothing, and the crowd outlines are loosely drawn, so the figures feel quickly observed rather than posed. A building with arched windows and a tall post rises at far left, framing the open space.

Meaning & Symbolism

The scene records everyday movement at a station, where horse-drawn transport met pedestrians and waiting passengers. The carriage, the harness and the figures in period dress capture a moment when animal-drawn vehicles were still central to urban travel. Solon Borglum (1868–1922) was born in Ogden, Utah, and trained as a sculptor in Paris, where he became known for animal sculpture, especially horses. He was the brother of Gutzon Borglum. His attention to horses in their working setting, the harness and the carriage, shows in every part of this street scene.

Why It Works on a Tee

A tee is worn and seen from every side, so the composition gives the wearer a scene that moves with them. The carriage and the women sit at the edges of a curved open space, which reads well across a chest and the way the eye travels down the shirt. Fine hatching and loose lines stay legible at close range, so the crowd still reads as a crowd when the shirt is worn.