Horses at Rest

1950s– early 1960s, oil on canvas, 145x200 cm (with frame 165x220x6 cm) /// The Latvian painter Jānis Rikmanis (1901–1968) received his professional education at the Art Academy of Latvia in the late 1920s, specialising in figurative painting. His style is characterised by a ability to depict psychological nuance and spatial density. His works are dominated by a warm, earth-toned colour palette and a loose, space-shaping brushstroke that lends the paintings a subdued but inwardly dynamic atmosphere. In his landscapes, Rikmanis portrays the nature of Latvia with restrained respect and a delicate sense of mood. The large-format painting evokes the motif of horses at rest, which Rikmanis develops with his characteristic emotional imagery. The horses occupy the central role, depicted as powerful, life-filled figures modelled with a confident and free brushstroke. This approach demonstrates the artist’s ability to convey the grace of a strong animal while emphasising the horses’ monumental presence. The painting’s texture is built through a multi-layered, loose brushwork technique that imparts spatial depth to the composition. The restful scene forms a harmonious, romantic view in which the closeness between people and nature acquires a peaceful sense of unity. /// The artist’s signature is located in the lower right corner of the painting.