Horses with storm 1950

Antonio Ligabue painted Horses with Storm with oil on panel sometime in the mid-20th century. The image depicts a horse-drawn carriage careening through the countryside during a storm, and can be understood as a dramatic statement about the relationship between humanity and nature. Ligabue was an Italian artist who lived an outsider life, and his work often reflects his struggles with mental illness and social isolation. Ligabue's art can be contextualized within the broader history of outsider art, a term used to describe art created outside the mainstream art world. Ligabue, who spent much of his life in poverty, working as a farmhand, did not receive any formal artistic training and his work was not initially well-received by the art establishment. It wasn’t until after his death that his art gained recognition. By considering the historical context in which Ligabue created his work, including factors such as his social status and mental health, we can gain a deeper understanding of the meaning and significance of his art.