Carousel Horse c. 1938

Albert Ryder made this painting of a Carousel Horse on paper, but when, we don't know. I'm immediately drawn to the subtle palette, those muted grays and reds that give the horse a kind of understated elegance. You know, when you look at the surface, it's almost like you can see Ryder feeling his way through the form, defining the horse with light strokes that build up into something solid and real. It's amazing to think about the choices Ryder made, the way he decided to depict this familiar object. I'm curious about the relationship between art and craft; Ryder's work sits within the broader context of American folk art, blurring these boundaries and reminding us that creativity exists in many forms. Artists are in constant conversation, building on each other's ideas and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. I think painting is like that, an open-ended dialogue that invites us to bring our own experiences and interpretations.