Sumi Stallion Bust (Print) - Virginia Cohn Parkum, C. 2020s

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Sumi Stallion Bust (Print)*
Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 2020s

In Sumi Stallion Bust, Virginia Cohn Parkum distills the power and … Read more Sumi Stallion Bust (Print)*
Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 2020s

In Sumi Stallion Bust, Virginia Cohn Parkum distills the power and spirit of the horse into a spare yet commanding composition. The animal’s head emerges through sweeping, gestural strokes that define the muzzle, jawline, and crest with remarkable economy. Rather than constructing form through contour alone, Parkum allows the diffusion of ink and the pressure of the brush to create volume, giving the stallion a sculptural presence that feels both immediate and elemental.

A handprint appears alongside the horse’s visage, its textured imprint contrasting with the fluid brushwork. This juxtaposition introduces a striking dialogue between human touch and animal presence. The handprint is not merely decorative; it functions as a mark of contact — an acknowledgment of relationship, stewardship, and shared vitality. The tactile grain of the print amplifies this sense of physical encounter, as though the viewer witnesses the moment where human and animal energies meet.

The ink handling ranges from saturated passages to porous stippling, revealing the absorbency of the paper and the velocity of Parkum’s gestures. Sweeping arcs above the head suggest mane and motion, while broken edges and feathered transitions keep the form alive and breathing within the white field.

Despite its minimal means, the composition carries a ceremonial gravity. The stallion’s eye area, formed through subtle negative space, conveys alertness and intelligence, while the bold structural lines anchor the image in strength and dignity.

Sumi Stallion Bust is both portrait and invocation. Through gesture, imprint, and restraint, Parkum captures the essence of the horse — not as an object of observation, but as a living force encountered through presence, touch, and respect.
-Jonathan Flike

*The title of this work was assigned by Visard Gallery. See less