Nova Scotia, from the series Space Capsule, 1974
Toned gelatin silver print
11 × 14 in.
Signed and dated on verso
June 30, 2025
This dream-like picture wears its making on its sleeve, yet it retains an air of mystery. Between 1973–1975 Michael Becotte made a body of work that he called Space Capsule, where he used the view from inside his truck as a viewpoint and framing device, while making driving trips up and down the east coast from Florida to Nova Scotia. An encounter with a free roaming horse, who appears to have been more than happy to stop and pose for the camera, yielded this particularly successful picture. Through the combination of elements, Becotte turns a rather desolate looking stretch of road in Nova Scotia into a lively image. In a neat trick, which adds a touch of the surreal, the foreshortened horse is reduced in scale so that it appears to be the same size as the collection of pinecones and seashells on the dashboard, transforming the view out the windshield into a cabinet of curiosities.
