Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
*Gazelle the White Horse*, 1881

Painted when Lautrec was 17, this work shows a white horse gazing from the deep shadows of its stable. Its wise, accepting eyes seem to belong to the hero of an Eastern tale.

A poor man’s white horse ran away. When neighbours called it a misfortune, he replied, “Let’s not rush to judge.”

Two weeks later, it returned with wild horses. They called him lucky, but he said, “Who knows whether it’s good fortune or bad?”

Soon, his son broke his legs trying to tame one. The neighbours called it a curse. A year later, war took every able-bodied young man, but the son was spared because he was lame.

Life is a chain of events. Today’s disaster may become tomorrow’s saving grace. Don’t panic or draw hasty conclusions from temporary setbacks.

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