Two Horses #2

William Hawkins (1895-1990) painted graphic, large-scale images depicting animals, architecture, religious scenes and well-known events. Two Horses #2 is a lively depiction of a mare and its foal. The pair seem hefty, their weightiness in part bestowed through Hawkins’ use of cornmeal to build up their bodies and set them apart from the landscape. Set against a vibrant blue background and below a colorful sky of yellow, orange, black and white, the two horses gallop across a rocky ground textured with dots of pebbles. The mare’s tail swings upwards as they stride forward. The dynamic scene is bordered in red and white stripes; Hawkins often painted borders directly on his pieces to save patrons the expense of purchasing frames.