A foal rearing up, frightened by the sight of the equine skull appearing on the left, stiffening its agitated physique in a sudden jolt. The tension of the protagonist is captured through a nervous and incisive graphic mark, while the wide and deep contours enhance the sense of plasticity, making it evident that the artist first thinks as a sculptor. Elia Ajolfi (Bergamo 1916-2001), trained first in his father Francesco's workshop (alongside Giacomo Manzù) and then at the Florence Academy, is one of the great Italian bronze sculptors of the 20th century, but also in cast iron, clay, and innovative materials. To his animalistic sculptural cycles, starting from the late 1950s, he preceded refined drawings like this one, characterized by an incisive, dynamic plasticity. Mixed technique (pen and ink and watercolor) on beige paper, measures 100 x 72.5 cm; wooden frame. Signature and date 1961 in the lower right.
