The artwork titled “Spring Tryout” was created by Thomas Hart Benton in 1946. Executed in the medium of lithography, the artwork is part of the Regionalism art movement and belongs to the genre of genre painting.
The composition of “Spring Tryout” encapsulates a vigorous scene set against a dynamic backdrop. In the artwork, a young rider is depicted galloping on a horse, exuding a sense of motion and energy. A second figure appears to have fallen to the ground, intensifying the action captured within the piece. The swirling, cloud-filled sky adds a dramatic effect, emphasizing the rural and dynamic setting. The landscape, with its undulating fields and distant barn, evokes a quintessentially American rural life, resonating with Benton’s characteristic exploration of everyday scenes and local culture of the American Midwest. The monochromatic lithographic technique enhances the contrasts and textures, contributing to the overall dynamism and detail of the piece.