Folk Art Painting With Anthropomorphic Horses And Figures Appraisal

Folk Art Painting with Anthropomorphic Horses and Figures

This is a large-format, framed folk art painting depicting a dynamic scene with stylized figures and animals. The painting is executed on what appears to be a board or canvas, featuring a vibrant color palette dominated by blues, whites, and blacks, accented with reds, yellows, and various pastel shades. The composition is divided into two distinct halves by an implied diagonal line. On the left, two anthropomorphic horses are depicted, rendered with solid black bodies, white manes, and exaggerated expressions, appearing to emerge from a dark, textured foreground. They wear white costumes with patterned bottoms and colorful, flowing ribbons or sashes in pink, light blue, yellow, and green. Their eyes are depicted with large, white pupils against black. On the right side, two human-like figures in historical or traditional attire are shown. The figure on the left is bending forward, holding what appears to be a string of beads or a chain, while the figure on the right stands more upright, with one arm raised in a gesture of action, possibly wielding an unseen object or preparing to strike. Both human figures are dressed in white uniforms with black hats adorned with red and white plumes. The rightmost figure has a green sash across his chest and a yellow belt. The background features a bright blue sky with repeating yellow circles, possibly representing stars or decorative motifs. The foreground for both sections is a dark, mottled texture. The painting is set within a simple, narrow wooden frame, likely stained a dark brown or black. The visible condition suggests some surface wear consistent with age, or possibly intentional textural effects by the artist. There are no discernible artist signatures or marks visible in the provided image. The style is distinctly naive or folk art, characterized by simplified forms, bold outlines, and a lack of traditional perspective, suggesting it could be from the mid-to-late 20th century or earlier, depending on the specific folk art tradition.