Title: Top Knot
Artist: Susan James
About This Piece: "Top Knot," re-imagines the classic carousel horse as a striking Indian pony. The figure is presented in a dynamic, mid-stride pose, its body richly adorned with elements that suggest the powerful aesthetic of the American West. The title refers to the prominently raised forelock, or top knot, on the horse's head. The horse’s mane and tail are elaborately decorated with vibrant green feathers and bright red berries suspended on rawhide strips. The pony is draped in the hide of a mountain lion, with the animal's head visible as the cantle (the back ridge) of the saddle—a powerful symbol of the frontier. Suspended from a cord draped over the mountain lion's neck is a quiver with arrows and a tomahawk. The red and white barber pole, Susan’s signature substitution for the typical brass pole, likens to the perpetual single-direction spinning of the carousel, and suggests a hidden layer of kinetic energy beneath an otherwise static figure.
Top Knot is part of a five-horse series, which includes: Outside Jumper, Outside Stander, Top Knot, Rodeo, and Cavalry Charger. The full classic set of seven carousel images includes two menagerie animals: “Merry Goes Round” (deer), and “Macabilly” (goat). In 2024, Susan created a re-imagination of these five horses, and an additional four more, in the El Camino photogravure series. “El Camino” (The Path) is also the title of a larger image of all nine carousel horses who have broken free of the carousel.
Medium: Hand-drawn, hand-colored line etching
Printmaking Process: hand-printed intaglio etching
Ink/Paper Combination: Sepia ink printed on Rives BFK paper.
Image Size: 10 x 8 inches
Paper Size: 11 x 13 inches
Edition Start Date: 1989
Edition Size: No more than 100 original prints plus 10 Artist Proofs.
All prints are signed, numbered, and titled in graphite pencil by the artist. All images come with a Certificate of Authenticity, which includes the artist’s signature, a detailed description of the edition, and the Passerina Press seal embossed on gold seal in right-side corner.
Edition Number of This Piece: 17/100
Mat and Frame Description: 8-ply white mat mounted over print margins, revealing the characteristic embossing of the intaglio plate. Surrounding frame is golden-oak stained hardwood. Frame color emphasizes the yellow and brown elements of the artwork.
Outer Frame Dimensions: Approximately 18 x 15.5 inches, 1.5 inches depth.
Title: Top Knot
Artist: Susan James
About This Piece: "Top Knot," re-imagines the classic carousel horse as a striking Indian pony. The figure is presented in a dynamic, mid-stride pose, its body richly adorned with elements that suggest the powerful aesthetic of the American West. The title refers to the prominently raised forelock, or top knot, on the horse's head. The horse’s mane and tail are elaborately decorated with vibrant green feathers and bright red berries suspended on rawhide strips. The pony is draped in the hide of a mountain lion, with the animal's head visible as the cantle (the back ridge) of the saddle—a powerful symbol of the frontier. Suspended from a cord draped over the mountain lion's neck is a quiver with arrows and a tomahawk. The red and white barber pole, Susan’s signature substitution for the typical brass pole, likens to the perpetual single-direction spinning of the carousel, and suggests a hidden layer of kinetic energy beneath an otherwise static figure.
Top Knot is part of a five-horse series, which includes: Outside Jumper, Outside Stander, Top Knot, Rodeo, and Cavalry Charger. The full classic set of seven carousel images includes two menagerie animals: “Merry Goes Round” (deer), and “Macabilly” (goat). In 2024, Susan created a re-imagination of these five horses, and an additional four more, in the El Camino photogravure series. “El Camino” (The Path) is also the title of a larger image of all nine carousel horses who have broken free of the carousel.
Medium: Hand-drawn, hand-colored line etching
Printmaking Process: hand-printed intaglio etching
Ink/Paper Combination: Sepia ink printed on Rives BFK paper.
Image Size: 10 x 8 inches
Paper Size: 11 x 13 inches
Edition Start Date: 1989
Edition Size: No more than 100 original prints plus 10 Artist Proofs.
All prints are signed, numbered, and titled in graphite pencil by the artist. All images come with a Certificate of Authenticity, which includes the artist’s signature, a detailed description of the edition, and the Passerina Press seal embossed on gold seal in right-side corner.
Edition Number of This Piece: 17/100
Mat and Frame Description: 8-ply white mat mounted over print margins, revealing the characteristic embossing of the intaglio plate. Surrounding frame is golden-oak stained hardwood. Frame color emphasizes the yellow and brown elements of the artwork.
Outer Frame Dimensions: Approximately 18 x 15.5 inches, 1.5 inches depth.
