A Missing Horse 2017

Mark Maggiori made this painting of a cowboy on horseback somewhere in the American West, though the date is unknown, using oil paint. There is something so beautiful about how he blends colors. The painting is really about the texture of the sky. Look at the cloud formation behind the cowboy. Maggiori uses a thick impasto technique to build up these dynamic shapes. Each brushstroke is visible, giving the clouds a tangible, almost sculptural quality. The contrast between the smooth, blended areas and the textured parts creates an interesting visual rhythm that makes you want to reach out and touch it. The way Maggiori handles the paint reminds me of how Van Gogh used texture to convey emotion, creating a dialogue across time and space. Ultimately, this painting invites us to get lost in the process, to appreciate the beauty of imperfection, and to embrace the multitude of meanings it can hold.