Description

A spirited and energetic mixed media work on heavy toned paper, depicting a classic circus "equestrienne" or bareback rider in mid-performance. The artist utilizes a sophisticated palette of charcoal black, stark white gouache, and sanguine red to create a sense of vibrating motion.

The composition features a performer balanced precariously on one leg atop a galloping white-maned horse. Her arms are flung wide in a gesture of triumph and balance, rendered in bold red tones that draw the eye upward. The horse is executed with vigorous, gestural brushstrokes, emphasizing the muscularity and power of the animal in contrast to the light, airy frills of the rider’s white tutu.

The work is signed "Gropper" in white in the lower right corner. This piece exemplifies Gropper's mastery of caricature and movement, moving away from his sharper political satire into the fluid, celebratory realm of the American circus.

Condition Report

• Dimensions: Height: 24 in | Length: 19 in

• Medium: Mixed media (Charcoal, Gouache, and Crayon/Pastel) on toned paper or illustration board.

• State: The work shows some edge wear consistent with age, including small chips and minor creases at the far-left periphery and corners. The central image remains vibrant and well-preserved.

Keywords: William Gropper, American Social Realism, Circus Art, Bareback Rider, Equestrian Performance, Mid-Century Modern Art, Gestural Drawing, Vintage Circus, Horse and Rider, Gouache Painting, Fine Art Drawing, 20th Century Illustrator, Artist Signed, Collectible Art.