Horses by the Hay, 2025

Suprunchuk Yuriy  

AAA5296

The oil painting on Cardboard titled "Horses by the Hay" presents a captivating pastoral scene brimming with life, movement, and the unhurried rhythm of rural existence. With vibrant colors and energetic brushstrokes, the artist captures the essence of a working day in a countryside village, where man, animal, and land are intimately intertwined. At the center of the composition, a pair of horses takes prominence, depicted with gentle strength and familiarity. One stands, its figure solid and calm, while the other rests on the grass nearby, contributing to the tranquil energy of the scene. Their presence suggests both utility and companionship—creatures that are both beasts of burden and quiet observers of village life. The use of earthy browns and ochres in the horses' coats contrasts beautifully with the surrounding green grass and brightly painted structures, drawing the viewer's eye to their grounded form. Behind them rises a collection of rustic buildings with slanted thatched roofs, rendered in deep reds, purples, and browns. These colors, applied with thick, confident strokes, evoke the warmth and aged character of rural architecture. White laundry hangs on a line, fluttering in the breeze and catching the light with dabs of white, blue, and orange—a small but powerful detail that suggests domestic life, the care of family, and the everyday rituals of the countryside. To the right, a tall haystack looms, assembled in the traditional manner and bound with sticks. Its massive, organic form echoes the shapes of the hills and treetops behind it, emphasizing a connection between human activity and the natural world. The hay glows with tones of green and sienna, and its placement—adjacent to the horses—reminds us of the cyclical labor that sustains both animal and man. Villagers are scattered across the canvas, painted with gestural strokes that imply movement and effort rather than fixed identity. One figure stands with a pitchfork or rake near the horses, while another moves near the laundry line. Their garments are rendered in blue, white, and muted earth tones, subtly blending into the scene, becoming part of the land they work upon. The figures are neither dominant nor diminished—they are essential, human elements of a larger landscape narrative.