Foal (Le Poulain) [also called "The Colt"]

Foal (Le Poulain) [also called "The Colt"], created by Georges Seurat between 1882 and 1883, is a superb example of the artist’s early explorations in black and white drawing. Executed using Conté crayon on laid paper, this piece demonstrates Seurat’s revolutionary approach to light and shadow, which was central to his graphic output during this foundational period. Unlike his later, brightly colored Pointillist canvases, these drawings rely on the velvety density of the crayon applied against the highly textured paper surface to define form and volume.

The subject, a young foal, is rendered with profound economy, the mass of the animal emerging subtly from the surrounding darkness. Seurat employed the technique of allowing the white of the paper to function as the light source, creating luminous highlights where the crayon is absent or lightly applied. These tâches (patches) of black crayon anticipate the meticulous division of color that would define his Neo-Impressionist career. Drawings centered on the study of horses and other animals were vital preparatory exercises for Seurat, allowing him to examine how light interacts with complex physical forms before applying similar principles to human figures and urban scenes.

Today, this significant drawing is housed within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The delicacy and historical importance of the work make it essential to the understanding of Georges Seurat’s trajectory from conventional drafting toward radical optical experimentation. Due to the age of the original work, high-quality prints derived from the original artwork are frequently made available through public domain art initiatives, allowing scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to access this masterful graphic study.