Surveying the Ridge 

Joshua LaRock paints with oil a cowboy surveying land. At the heart of this work lies a powerful emblem: the horse. Consider how this motif transcends time and culture. Recall the equestrian statues of Roman emperors, symbols of power and divine right, or the horses in ancient Greek friezes, embodying grace and nobility. Here, the horse is a representation of freedom, strength, and a deep connection to the land. Notice, too, the cowboy’s lasso—a loop of rope, a potent image evoking cyclical movements. Across civilizations, similar circular forms appear: think of the Ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, or the halo in religious art, each symbolizing eternity and the infinite. The lasso embodies human attempt to impose order on the chaotic flux of life, as the cowboy tries to domesticate the wilderness. This gesture resonates with an unconscious desire to control fate. The image evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for simpler times, touching on deeply ingrained emotions. In the grand tapestry of art history, the lasso and the horse are not merely tools or animals, but symbols of our enduring quest for understanding and control.