A white horse’s head emerges from a near-black field, lit as if by a single raking spotlight from the upper left. The ears are alert, the planes of the forehead and nasal bone are crisply modeled, and the left eye sits in a deep socket of shadow. The composition is tightly cropped so the long blaze and soft muzzle dominate the frame; high contrast between the illuminated face and the umber-black background creates a dramatic, tenebrist presence.

Closer in, the painting reveals confident, economical brushwork: scumbled highlights ride across the linen weave, while broader, darker strokes knit the mane into the surrounding darkness. Edges toggle between sharp and lost, guiding the gaze from ear tips down the central ridge to the nostrils. The restrained, sepia-monochrome palette underscores the study’s purpose—capturing structure, light, and temperament in a manner that nods to Géricault’s Romantic equine portraits.