Le Poulain, Stone statue in Lausanne, Switzerland

Le Poulain is a stone statue of a young horse in Lausanne, Switzerland. The foal sits on a rectangular pedestal with a stepped lower edge, its front right leg bent and raised, its head turned to the left, and the rough grey surface showing signs of weathering, all set in a shallow pool of water.

The sculpture was created by Pierre Blanc in 1942 and carved by the stonecutter Roncati. It was installed in the fountain of the park in 1943 and has been part of Lausanne's public art collection since then.

The foal is shown trying to stand, a little clumsily, and it brings a touch of youth and tenderness to the park. Its soft, realistic forms stand out against the square basin and the straight line of lime trees, and the artist's fondness for animal subjects is easy to see.

You can find the sculpture in the northern part of Parc de Valency, near Route de Prilly 18. The park is open to the public, and the statue is easy to reach on foot, with paths that lead directly to the water basin.

The statue is carved from a shelly limestone grit, a material that gives the surface its mottled grey look. Generations of local children have climbed on the foal, as one resident recalled, making it a familiar playmate in the park.