Haflinger with butterflies in pink smoke against a black background by Laura Georgi Tier- und Ladschaftsfotografie

A Haflinger stands facing the camera in the darkness, its head slightly lowered, its white mane falling in a broad strand across its forehead and right eye. A light-blue paper butterfly rests on its temple, with a second, black one on its cheek. On the right-hand side of the picture, pink and grey smoke rises in soft wisps, whilst the background on the left remains completely black.

The nostrils are strikingly large in the picture, and there is a reason for this. Horses breathe through their noses, not through their mouths: the soft palate seals off the throat from the mouth. All the air required for a gallop must pass through these two openings. That is why they are so much more mobile and expressive in horses than in other domestic animals.

Here, the smoke replaces the floral decoration, lending the picture a more serene and mature feel than the colourful versions in the same series. It is suitable for bedrooms, hallways, studies and anywhere else where an animal portrait should maintain a sense of restraint.

On canvas, the smoke appears soft and rich in depth; on acrylic glass, the individual strands of mane and the butterfly’s wings stand out much more clearly. A gift for Haflinger owners, shared-ownership riders and anyone looking for horse pictures without sentimentality.

Further search terms: Haflinger picture, horse with smoke, butterfly wall art, dark horse photography, animal portrait on a black background