Bruce Roberts – Unknown 02, De Bruce Roberts

The work presents two equine figures rendered in a fluid, expressive style. Here we observe a predominantly warm palette – ochres, burnt siennas, and russets – contrasted with cooler blues and grays that define the second animal. The composition is vertically oriented, emphasizing the upward thrust of the creatures’ forms.
The artist employed a technique characterized by loose brushwork and washes, creating an impressionistic effect where detail is sacrificed for movement and emotional resonance. The horses are not depicted realistically; instead, they appear as dynamic energy captured in line and color. Their anatomy is suggested rather than precisely defined, contributing to the sense of immediacy and spontaneity.
The foreground animal appears to be rearing or struggling against restraint, its body angled sharply and its mane and tail rendered as swirling lines that convey a feeling of agitation. The second horse, positioned slightly behind and to the right, seems to echo this movement, though with less overt tension. Its form is more elongated and ethereal, almost dissolving into the background washes.
The use of color contributes significantly to the work’s subtextual layers. The warmer tones associated with the first animal might suggest vitality or perhaps a struggle for freedom, while the cooler hues enveloping the second could imply a sense of melancholy or resignation. The interplay between these contrasting colors creates a visual dialogue that invites contemplation on themes of power, constraint, and the inherent tension within natural forces.
The background is not a defined space but rather an atmospheric field of blended tones, which further enhances the feeling of movement and instability. This lack of grounding reinforces the impression that the horses exist in a realm beyond concrete reality – a symbolic landscape where emotions are given visual form. The signature at the bottom left corner anchors the work within a specific authorship while simultaneously acknowledging its ephemeral quality.