EvaSegovia
Yes. Me again. I guess it's possible the horse is hot and doesn't want to be ridden. Still, if the overall message of the card is shining, freeing, seeing etc. (all very positive meanings) why put in a hot, unhappy horse?
I agree. Thank you for these great examples.Portraying horses' faces has a long tradition in art. Especially expressive: Gericault, Toulouse Lautrec.
Colman-Smith studied art and whether she knew these paintings (all of them very well-known) or not, she was certainly aware of the long and important tradition of horse paintings. No, I don't think Colman-Smith wanted a cute, smiling horse face. She depicted a dignified, strong horse.
I disagree. Horses don't look happy. Horses don't smile and they're not cute. This horse has an important role (carrying the sun child, the newborn sun) and is aware of it.
The white horse has long been a symbol for paradise and a noble spirit (and does so until today, I'm reminded of Tolkien's Shadowfax, played by a white horse in the movie).
Here are some important depictions of white horses, underlining their association with light (even divine light), mythological creatures like unicorns, and paradise: Jan Breughel, Velazquez, George Stubbs, John Constable, Gauguin and Franz Marc.
Portraying horses' faces has a long tradition in art. Especially expressive: Gericault, Toulouse Lautrec.
Colman-Smith studied art and whether she knew these paintings (all of them very well-known) or not, she was certainly aware of the long and important tradition of horse paintings. No, I don't think Colman-Smith wanted a cute, smiling horse face. She depicted a dignified, strong horse. She was a good enough artist not to add, like cartoon artists, eye brows and a smile. That's nice for a children's movie (which I like very much), but it's absolutely not her style.
The reason I've been closely studying the images is because of Pamela Coleman Smith's admonition to look at the faces. She was a very good illustrator, so I don't think anything in the images is "by chance" I'm glad I'm not the only one who's noticed this. I like both of your' takes on this. It's never occurred to me to look at the Sun card as having a sobering message... But there you have it....
I agree. Thank you for these great examples.
On the Waite-Smith commemorative deck (based on first printing PamA: Roses & Lilies) the horse doesn't look unhappy to me at all. The Sun has an enigmatic, Mona Lisa-like smile. There are minor changes in each early printing of the deck as the printers had to redraw and reshade the images on the lithography surface. To make too much of the horse's expression in terms of Pixie's intent is something that can never be proved. It's a matter of opinion and personal perception. My opinions and perceptions have certainly changed over time.
To me the horse looks how the querent perceives him. It's the querent's perception that colors the whole meaning of the card for that person in that situation. I will also sometimes ask the querent what the horse thinks of the child.