Horseman Palimpsest 

Walter Battiss created Horseman Palimpsest using oil paint in an undetermined year. At first glance, the canvas presents an almost chaotic arrangement of forms and colors, where a vivid orange dominates in the shape of a horse and rider on the left panel. The right panel features more muted greens and browns, with groupings of figures. Battiss's handling of the oil paint is quite expressive, with visible brushstrokes and layers that add a tactile dimension to the work. This layering hints at the painting's title - palimpsest - and the idea of layering of texts or images, creating a sense of history and hidden narratives. Semiologically, Battiss uses simplified figures and forms which act as signs, open to interpretation, to create a visual language that feels both ancient and modern. By destabilizing traditional representational techniques, Battiss engages with a broader artistic discourse of challenging fixed meanings, and embracing ambiguity and subjective interpretation. Ultimately, the painting's strength lies in its ability to invite ongoing dialogue and reflection on the nature of history, identity, and representation.