#43555 Byun Shi Ji

The composition presents a stark and symbolic scene against a warm, ochre-toned background. A central equine figure dominates the visual field; its posture suggests a moment of heightened emotion – perhaps alarm or defiance – as it rears upward with its head thrown back. The artist employed loose brushstrokes to render the horses form, creating an impression of energy and movement while maintaining a degree of abstraction.
Below the animal, a smaller human figure is depicted in a crouched position, seemingly engaged in some activity involving a circular object held close. The individual’s posture conveys vulnerability and perhaps subservience, contrasting with the dynamism of the horse above. The artists use of darker tones for this figure further emphasizes its subordinate role within the scene.
Positioned near the upper edge of the canvas is a simple, circular form – likely intended to represent the moon or sun. Its placement contributes to the painting’s overall sense of cosmic significance and reinforces the feeling that the depicted events are unfolding under some larger, perhaps inscrutable, force.
The limited palette and simplified forms contribute to an atmosphere of austerity and introspection. The work appears less concerned with realistic representation than with conveying a symbolic narrative or exploring themes of power, vulnerability, and the relationship between humanity and nature. The signature in the lower right corner indicates the year 1979, suggesting a possible context within late twentieth-century artistic production.