Two Riders 1936

Cyprián Majerník made this painting called Two Riders with what looks like tempera or gouache, sometime before 1945. Look at the brown and earthy colours! I can imagine Majerník standing in front of his canvas, maybe a bit nervous, trying to get this image out, mixing the paint, and then applying it with big, confident brushstrokes. I wonder if he built up the image gradually, or did he just go for it, alla prima? The figures are solid but slightly awkward and cartoonish. I love the way he's handled the horses; one dark and one pale. So what's going on here? Is it a portrait, an allegory, or just an excuse to paint? I admire how he’s not afraid to leave things unresolved. It makes me think of other painters who used colour expressively, like the German Expressionists. All painters are in an ongoing conversation, exchanging ideas and inspiring each other’s creativity. This is what makes art so alive and open.