Cheval galopant

Xu Beihong (1895–1953), a leading figure in modern Chinese art, is celebrated above all for his depictions of horses, in which he achieved a compelling synthesis of Western anatomical precision and the expressive vitality of ink painting. His galloping horses, with streaming manes and powerful movement, have become enduring images of strength and forward momentum.
The present Galloping Horse, dated to the Great Heat of 1947, belongs to the artist’s mature period. The animal is shown with head raised and hooves driving forward, its body articulated through broad, fluid washes of ink that convey both volume and underlying structure. The mane and tail are executed in swift, dry strokes, with lively broken ink effects that evoke speed and energy. Set against an unarticulated ground, the absence of background heightens the immediacy of the form and reinforces the dynamic presence of the horse.