This striking painting by Walter Piehl, likely from his "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" series, captures the intense, chaotic energy of a bucking horse and rider. The artwork is characterized by an expressive, gestural style, where dynamic lines and fluid brushwork convey the sensation of movement and speed—a central concern of the Italian Futurist movement. ​Piehl uses a swirling composition and blurred, overlapping forms, particularly evident in the horse's legs and body, to suggest the multi-directional action of the animal over time, similar to Futurist attempts to depict "lines of force" and simultaneity. The bold use of white, grey, and black, accented by touches of bright blue and red, enhances the visual explosion of the rodeo subject. It is a powerful fusion of Abstract Expressionism and the spirit of the American West, echoing Futurist dynamism by painting how the ride feels rather than just how it looks.

Untitled painting on masonite. Walter Piehl. 1964.

Choose 20 paintings that have stayed with you or influenced you — one painting per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just paintings. 15/20

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