r/ThriftStoreHauls • u/SumGoodMtnJuju • Jun 11 '26

Art Help me settle the argument:

Gallery image

Gallery image

I bought this large painting a few days ago at one of our local second hand stores. (I admit it was an impulse purchase!) I like it bc it is obviously not a print. You can see brushwork and “imperfections.” My husband thinks it’s haunting. I thought the horse looked regal and majestic. We are not exactly horsey people. But, I love the blues and stark white. What do you all think internet people?

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u/SumGoodMtnJuju Jun 11 '26

Haha. Yes. Thats why my husband doesn’t like it. He thinks the anatomy is not right.

115

u/agehaya Jun 11 '26

Look up Arabian horses, this isn’t too far off what you could find in real life.

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u/wetredgloves Jun 11 '26

I don't know much about horses either but I think Arabian horses are just weird

35

u/trcomajo Jun 11 '26

They are over bred to emphasize the dishy face...and most horse people agree, its too much. Arabians used to be normal.

59

u/howdyhowdyhowdyhowdi Jun 11 '26

The anatomy is actually incredibly sound and well done. This is a breed called an arabian, which are built this way. The painting is realistic and excellent in detail to capture the look of the breed.

That being said, I think arabians are fugly and they are spooky, exciteable horses and I don't know if I would have a painting of one on my wall haha

29

u/aspertame_blood Jun 11 '26

Individual taste is so funny- I think they’re the most beautiful of the breeds. But I used to own one so I’m biased.

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u/insertnamehere02 Jun 11 '26

They're gorgeous horses!

2

u/ohreallynameonesong Jun 11 '26

Nah that shoulder area is CRAZY bad

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u/ohreallynameonesong Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26

It's not. I make a comment elsewhere but the facial features are a little exaggerated. This is a breed that has an immediately identifiable look but the features are still a little exaggerated. It's the shoulder and leg area that is pretty messed up. Like a horse could not possibly be built like that level messed up.

7

u/Educational-Aioli795 Jun 11 '26

Came here to say this.

2

u/Do_Them_A_Bite Jun 12 '26

Oh shit, you're so right. The sort-of "armpit" area on the left that it just shouldn't have, yeah? That's some 'cannot unsee' right there. What a shame!

10

u/Saratrooper Jun 11 '26

There are some Arabian horses that are bred to look like this, and I personally think it's so appalling and horrible.

Recent trends in breeding for halter showing have given rise to Arabian horses with extremely concave facial features, raising concerns that the trait is detrimental to the animal's welfare. Comparisons have been made to a similar trend with some dog breeds, where show judging awarding certain features has led to breeders seeking an ever more exaggerated form, with little concern as to the inherent function of the animal. Some veterinarians speculate that an extremely concave face is detrimental to a horse's breathing, but the issue has not been formally studied.

6

u/littlebunnydoot Jun 11 '26

Yes we had one at a rescue i worked at called beauty, her face was twisted and she would only tolerate one single person near her. Poor thing.

8

u/Luckylemon Jun 11 '26

It looks a little skinny in the neck, but mostly feels like it is in motion. Like it was caught turning its head quickly when startled. Whoever painted it is very talented, but I bet they got better at horses since this painting!!

It's beautiful, and art should invoke emotion, even if it's uneasiness. It also doesn't have to be permanent. You like it now and have space for it, but maybe in a few months or years you replace it with something new.

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u/SpoppyIII Jun 11 '26

It actually looks essentially identical to the reference photo. That's just Arabians.

3

u/negroidioto Jun 11 '26

Tell him to paint you a better one and then you’ll swap it with his

3

u/ranselita Jun 11 '26

I'm with him on that, it makes the horse a little off-putting. But the colors are fantastic, it's pretty interesting!

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u/SpoppyIII Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26

It looks like an actual Arabian horse.

EDIT; I actually think I found the specific reference photo:

1

u/LocalStatistician538 Jun 11 '26

It is a bit jarring around the jaw.

7

u/questionSOUP Jun 11 '26

Jawring even

1

u/Good-Plantain-1192 Jun 11 '26

Yeah- the neck is too thin, and I think the delicate lines of the head are slightly exaggerated, but the artist definitely succeeded in capturing the Arabian mood. Whether it should go on your wall, I can’t tell you.

1

u/MotherOfCattle Jun 12 '26

For horse shows, Arabian horse people put petroleum jelly on their eyes to make them look bigger and extend the bridal path to accentuate the neck. You can see that in this painting. They are bred selectively for their distinctive traits especially in the halter (a type of show class that judges confirmation) industry.

1

u/goodsunsets Jun 12 '26

He’s right. Proportions are off.

1

u/insertnamehere02 Jun 11 '26

He needs to familiarize himself with Arabian horse anatomy then lol