Picha (Jean-Paul Walravens) (1942) - Cheval de dos

Artist: Picha (Jean-Paul Walravens, Brussels, 1942)
Nationality: Belgian
Title: Cheval de dos

Date: Unknown date (second half of the 20th century)

Technique: Charcoal on paper – original drawing done by hand with very deep shading and subtle highlights creating a velvety, atmospheric sfumato

Signature: Signed at the bottom right of the drawing, Picha

Dimensions: 28 × 20 cm (execution) – 42.5 × 32.5 cm (with frame)

Framing: Magnificent museum-style “box-frame” in light wood with deep white passe-partout and protective glass (included)

Condition: Very good condition – paper intact, charcoal perfectly preserved, no notable wear.

Edition: Unique work. Original drawing made by the artist by hand.

Description of the work:
Powerful and poetic black-and-white composition depicting the head and neck of a horse seen strictly from the back. The charcoal treatment shows rare sensitivity: an exceptional smudging creates a dreamlike, velvety, almost phantom-like blur from which the animal emerges with a presence that is both monumental and evanescent. Ears upright, the powerful line of the mane and the subtle shaping of the neck are rendered with a mastery of chiaroscuro that evokes the great masters of sfumato while maintaining a distinctly Belgian 20th-century modernity.

This work, rare in Picha’s known production, reveals a more intimate and contemplative facet of the artist, far from his usual satirical and erotic universe. The horse here becomes a symbol of tranquil strength, mystery, and animal nobility, transcended by an almost spiritual atmosphere.

The Art of Picha:
Jean-Paul Walravens, known as Picha, is primarily famous for his comics and cult animated feature films (e.g., “Missing Link,” “The Big Bang”). Yet his drawing talent goes far beyond satire and cinema. His easel drawings, often done in charcoal or ink, demonstrate high technical mastery and an unexpectedly poetic sensibility. “Cheval de dos” is a remarkable example: the artist displays virtuosity in handling material and light, placing this piece among his most accomplished works and most sought after by Belgian art lovers of the 20th century.

Biography of the artist:
Picha,Real name Jean-Paul Walravens, was born July 2, 1942, in Brussels. Trained at the Institute Saint-Luc in Brussels, he began his career as a newspaper illustrator in the 1960s (Pan, Hara-Kiri, etc.). He quickly became one of the great names in Belgian and international comics thanks to a recognizable line and a dark, often erotic and surreal humor.

At the same time, he ventured into animation cinema with feature-length films that enjoyed worldwide success. His work, protean, oscillates between ferocious satire and more personal plastic exploration. His original drawings, less numerous than his comic boards, are highly valued for their graphic quality and rarity. They figure in major private collections and have been auctioned on several occasions. Today, Picha remains a major figure of Belgian contemporary art, recognized for both his narrative genius and his exceptional drawing mastery.