Mare and Foal 1965 - 1966

Arthur Sarnoff painted this picture of a mare and foal with oils, and it looks like he had fun doing it. There’s something so joyful about how the colors burst forth, like an overripe fruit. The yellows and browns dominate and they create a sense of light, and an atmosphere of warmth. I can imagine Sarnoff wanting to capture a fleeting moment of maternal love and the simple beauty of the rural landscape, while also exploring traditional painting techniques. Look at the way the muscles of the horses ripple and flex under their skin. I can just see Sarnoff mixing colors on his palette, trying to get that perfect shade of brown. When he gets it just right, he makes a confident stroke and the movement comes alive. I think a lot of artists would recognize this. It's like we're all in a big conversation with each other through our paintings. We’re looking and learning, always.