The big horse

Le Grand Cheval testifies to progress faith and fierce dynamism, in form and idea. With the help of cubism, and with a nod to the futurism that caused a furore in Italy at that time, DuchampVillon knows how to merge form and machine with animal power as common denominator. This work glorifies and honors this animal power and speed. The shapes limit space and try to catch them. The layered hull visualizes speed. Layered, and succeeded. DuchampVillon made five other copies of this statue. Perhaps because he himself was a passionate rider? They can be found in, among others, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Center Pompidou in Paris and the Tate Gallery in London. Raymond DuchampVillon was the brother of Marcel Duchamp and Jacques Villon. As a sculptor he was selftaught, which prevented him from making steady progress. From 1905 he participated annually in the Salon d'Automne and in 1910 he even started his own Cubist movement. At the outbreak of the First World War the sculptor joined the army as an assistant physician. He died young and would not see the end of the war anymore.