Exotic Riders 1942

Cyprián Majerník made 'Exotic Riders' with oil paint, but the date is uncertain. What strikes me is the way Majerník allows process to be so visible. It's not about hiding the brushstrokes, but letting them dance across the surface. Look at how the strokes of brown and white build up the horses, thick and almost sculptural. The paint is applied wet-on-wet, blurring the edges and creating a sense of movement. The color palette is subdued, with earthy browns and muted greens, yet there’s a vibrancy that comes from the texture. Take for instance the riders themselves, the figures are not highly defined, with indistinct faces. It's hard not to think of someone like Daumier, who was interested in capturing everyday scenes with a similar kind of empathy and painterly touch. Ultimately, this painting embraces ambiguity, it invites us to see the world not as fixed and defined, but as always in motion, always becoming.