Red Horses of the Sidhe,

1996

<p><em>Student Essay for CWR 209 / ART 223 / COM 240 / GSS 277 Along the Edge: Leonora Carrington</em></p><p>This image immediately thrusts the observer into an ambiguous yet tumultuous space. The dark form hovering in the upper-left corner resembles a dense, towering thundercloud, ready to burst at any moment. Below it is a thick mass of white paint that levels out on either side--striking me as a distant mountain or castle--and appears to falter into a thinner, wispier cloud to its right. The gradients of purple, green, and blue evoke a cosmic feeling, as if the action were occurring in an otherworldly dimension; the horses galloping across a vibrant nebula. Meanwhile, parabolic brushstrokes and muddled reflections indicate that the figures of the bottom-left corner are partially submerged under water. </p><p> <p>The creatures fall into two distinct groupings. On the left, a collection of black, belligerent beings express their hostility. Violence and primal aggression characterize the darkened tribe. Human-like figures wearing striped body paint and menacing masks resemble warriors of centuries past. One is wide-eyed with his arm cocked back and fist raised, ready to defend the frontline with his life. Another, like a bird of prey that erects the feathers around its neck to appear larger, extends his arms above his head to intimidate the oncomers. A third steadies his aim on the bow before drawing first blood. Above them all, a mutant crow looks poised to bite into a red horse’s face.</p></p><p><p>Despite the tension, this is a one-sided confrontation. The blue and gold riders, aside from their comically eccentric forms, display gently shut eyelids and soft smiles that are more befitting of entranced meditators than fighters anticipating a bloody clash. The horses’ bright-orange palette jumps out of the frame and shrouds the piece with a feeling that is both dynamic and magical. The colorful troop moves with serenity through the stormy scene, approaching the agitated horde below. However, they will not fight back, nor even stop. The red horses will continue their journey onwards, galloping peaceably to new and varied worlds without breaking stride.</p></p><p> <p>As the title suggests, this piece is heavily inspired by Celtic mythology, where the <em>sidhe </em>(formally <em>aos s</em><em>í</em>, which translates to “people of the mounds”) are a supernatural race, similar to fairies or elves, who are thought to live in a parallel universe that is intertwined with the realm of the living. The <em>sidhe </em>, in many Gaelic tales, are considered to be divine ancestors of Irish mythology, or <em>Tuatha Dé Danann </em>(“People of the Goddess Danu”; Danu being the supreme mother goddess and progenitor of all land and creatures according to Irish lore). Despite running away from home at age 20, the mythical stories passed down to Carrington by her Irish mother and grandmother would continue to inspire her for the rest of her life. Carrington was almost 80 years old when she completed this piece.<p><em>Alex Krauel Princeton Class of 2023</em></p></p></p>