Exodus Preliminary 

This preliminary drawing, "Exodus Preliminary," by the 20th-century artist Michael C. Hayes, presents a scene dominated by sepia tones, lending it an aged, almost mythical quality. The arches receding into the background establish a rhythm of architectural forms. The rider on horseback, caught mid-motion, propels the composition forward. The textures of the stone architecture contrast with the smoother surfaces of the figures, highlighting the artist's attention to material specificity and surface. Hayes uses line and form to create a sense of depth, drawing the viewer into the scene. The formal arrangement here is less about narrative and more about the interplay of light and shadow. This could be interpreted through a semiotic lens, where the image functions as a sign, evoking notions of departure, passage, and perhaps even transformation. The artist destabilizes any fixed interpretation by emphasizing the formal qualities over a clear, linear storyline. Ultimately, it invites us to consider how the formal elements communicate broader cultural and philosophical ideas about change and transition.