Horse and Running Girl 1937

Editor: This is "Horse and Running Girl," a 1937 watercolor painting by Rufino Tamayo. It definitely has an anxious feel. The colors are muted, almost distressed. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The juxtaposition of the horse and the fleeing figure immediately speaks to deeper, perhaps subconscious anxieties present in Tamayo’s work during this period. Think about the horse: throughout history, it has represented power, freedom, even nobility. But here, its imposing blackness almost seems ominous, looming over the girl. What stories, what collective fears, might this image evoke for you? Editor: I guess the looming darkness of the horse does suggest danger, especially given how frantic the girl looks. Is she running *from* the horse, or *towards* something else? Curator: Exactly. Consider the cultural context: 1937 was a period of intense global unrest. The Spanish Civil War was raging; the threat of another World War loomed. Could the horse, in its powerful darkness, symbolize those impending forces of chaos and destruction, forcing the girl to flee? Tamayo often imbued his work with this subtle, almost dreamlike, social commentary. What kind of symbolism is related to running? Editor: Hmmm. Running could symbolize fleeing danger, seeking refuge, or even a desperate hope for a better future. I didn't really catch that the painting might have social undertones. I saw the tension between the figures, but I hadn’t really considered the historical weight of the time. Curator: These symbols operate on multiple levels, don't they? They reflect both personal anxieties and shared cultural memories, creating a space for us to contemplate both. Editor: Right! Seeing those connections between personal experience and broader history is so fascinating. Thanks for helping me unlock some of the layers in Tamayo’s piece.