André Brasilier, *Rider on the Beach* (Plage au cavalier), oil on canvas, 50 × 73 cm (19.7 × 28.7 in.), 2020

This is a 2016 oil painting titled "Before the Storm" by André Brasilier (b. 1929). Under a sky covered in wild, swirling gray and white brushstrokes, a herd of black horses and their riders gallop across a sandy landscape in a scene filled with tension.

As the title suggests, the ominous sky foreshadowing an approaching storm and the dynamic horses galloping as if in response create a strong sense of drama throughout the painting. Brasilier's free brushstrokes, which seem to dissolve outlines, are characteristic of his later style, moving between figuration and abstraction. This piece highlights the instinctive power and beauty of the horses in the face of the natural threat of a turbulent sky.

Amidst the restrained, almost monochrome colors, only a subtle touch of ochre on the ground adds warmth to the scene, creating a poetic world where tension and tranquility coexist.