Runaway Horses 1941

Cyprián Majerník's 'Runaway Horses' is, as far as I can tell, undated, and was painted using oil on some kind of support. There's an urgency in this work, a real sense of immediacy. You can almost feel Majerník wrestling with the paint, trying to capture the restless energy of these animals. Look at how he's built up the surface, thick strokes of browns and grays, with little pops of orange peeking through. It's all very physical. I mean, you can practically trace the movement of his hand across the canvas. Notice that line running down the back of the horse on the right? It's not just a line, it's a whole history of touch, a record of Majerník's process. This piece reminds me a little of Franz Marc, that same intensity and interest in animals, but Majerník brings his own particular sensibility. It's all about feeling, about intuition, about letting the paint lead the way. It's a painting that reminds us that art is a conversation, a back and forth between the artist, the medium, and the world.