50s interiors: Horse motifs everywhere
Mid Mod Pam on Feb 26 2008 at 12:13 pm | Filed under: decoration, living room
I find it fascinating that primitive horse themes were so popular in the 50s and 60s. Why? To be sure, there was a sense of internationalism about modern interiors. Did these horse motifs evolve from Spain…or the prehistoric cave painting in Lascaux, France (at left) - as this 1959 interior (above) seems to clearly reference? Does this all start with Picasso? And, the horses are also very associated with the Danish Modern movement. Wherever the idea came from, they are wonderful.
8 Responses to “50s interiors: Horse motifs everywhere”
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My grandparents actually had a cave painting motif in their basement near their fire place. It was VERY similar to the one in the picture. Now I need to find out WHY the had it… I’ll let ya know!
I have to tell you I’m so excited I found your site today. My website is on housing and decorating trends, but I love retro and work in posts about retro rooms whenever possible. A few days ago I posted photos from a Better Homes and Gardens Decorating book published in 1956 that featured horse and jockey wallpaper. I didn’t realize that horses were a regular motif of the ’50s decorator (the ones in my photo weren’t primitive like yours, but apparently horses of any sort were popular!).
I will be updating that post tonight to add a link to yours and just wanted to let you know (the post is here if you want to see it: http://hookedonhouses.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/the-1950s-kitchen/ ).
I’ve bookmarked your site and will be back often. Thanks! -Julia K
[...] Read Retro Renovation’s post about the popularity of horse motifs in ’50s decorating [...]
Hi,
I’ve also noticed that the use of HORSE imagery coincides with phases of greater interest (for US) with the increase of HORSE POWER in cars. The 20’s-30’s and the 50’s-60’s are prime examples.
Ronn.
Equine art is very popular in Lexington KY, of course! Much of what you see in homes is in the forms of prints of realistic racing scenes or horses grazing in pastures. But some artists create works in the spirit of these cave paintings — abstract, with lots of movement and intensity.
Just this very week there was a TV program on a Louisville artist (I will try to dig up her name, I can’t remember it) who specializes in painting horses in this style. She said that her aim was to capture the energy of the horses rather than their actual appearance. Her comment seems to tie in with what Ronn Ives said regarding horse imagery and horse power in cars. Maybe in the 50s such paintings were a way of demonstrating the energy and enthusiasm of the times.
Hi. I finally found the name of the artist I mentioned earlier. She is Kate Esplen, and her interesting work can be found at http://www.kateesplen.com.
I find that Brady Bunch horse statue in different variations on sitcoms from the 50’s -70’s.
[...] to my question about, “Why all this Roman stuff?” It’s also come up before, with all the horse motifs with their greco-roman styling. And, the the mock-marble laminates - and faux-terrazzo flooring. [...]