Who painted Kicking Horse?

Kicking Horse was painted by Aelbert Cuyp in 1648.

Where can I see Kicking Horse?

Kicking Horse is held by Philadelphia Museum of Art.

What movement is Kicking Horse?

Kicking Horse is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Kicking Horse

Aelbert Cuyp , 1648

Kicking Horse is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Aelbert Cuyp. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Aelbert Cuyp’s 1648 oil painting *Kicking Horse* depicts a tranquil Dutch riverside landscape interrupted by a sudden, dramatic moment. The composition includes a white horse caught mid‑kick, a man in dark attire gesturing with a stick, a seated dog, and a lone cow beneath a barren tree. Soft, pale sky and gentle illumination characterize the scene, typical of Cuyp’s luminous pastoral style.

Subject & Meaning

The central focus is the horse’s abrupt, airborne kick, contrasting with the otherwise placid animals and figures. The man’s pointed gesture and the dog’s attentive stillness heighten the sense of controlled chaos, suggesting a narrative of human interaction with nature and the unpredictability of rural life.

Technique & Style

Cuyp employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing a warm, golden light to suffuse the sky and ground while casting subtle shadows that model the figures. The delicate rendering of the horse’s musculature and the smooth gradations of the sky demonstrate his skill in creating atmospheric depth within a compact landscape format.

History & Provenance

Created during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, the work reflects Cuyp’s mature period after training with his father, Jacob Gerritszoon Cuyp, in Dordrecht. *Kicking Horse* entered the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collection, where it remains part of the museum’s European paintings holdings.

Context

Cuyp’s oeuvre is renowned for serene riverbank scenes bathed in golden light, often featuring grazing cattle and quiet figures. This painting adheres to that tradition while introducing a moment of kinetic energy, illustrating the artist’s ability to blend calm pastoral settings with fleeting, dynamic episodes.

Artist & collection

Artist

Aelbert Cuyp

Aelbert Jacobszoon Cuyp or Cuijp (Dutch pronunciation: ; 20 October 1620 – 15 November 1691) was one of the leading Dutch Golden Age painters, producing mainly landscapes.