By Ethel Magafan
Located in Denver, CO
Original mid-century modernist lithograph by celebrated American artist Ethel Magafan (1916–1993), titled Riding the Brahmas. This powerful signed and numbered print captures the explosive energy and drama of a rodeo scene, featuring a cowboy riding a bucking Brahma bull while another figure recoils from the animal’s forceful movement. Executed with bold expressive linework and dynamic composition, the lithograph exemplifies Magafan’s distinctive blend of American Modernism, Western regionalism, and WPA-era artistic influence.
A leading figure in 20th-century American art, Ethel Magafan was renowned for her New Deal mural commissions and vivid portrayals of rural and Western American life. Alongside her twin sister Jenne Magafan, she studied at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center under influential artists including Boardman Robinson, Peppino Mangravite, and Frank Mechau. Her work earned national recognition for its sophisticated fusion of realism and abstraction, particularly in depictions of horses, rodeos, ranch life, and the American West.
Riding the Brahmas is an exceptional example of Magafan’s mature printmaking style, combining rhythmic movement, emotional intensity, and strong graphic design. The composition evokes the grit, danger, and excitement of the rodeo while maintaining the refined aesthetic qualities associated with American Modernist printmaking. Its striking black-and-white tonal contrasts and energetic figural forms make it highly appealing for collectors of Western Americana, equestrian art, vintage rodeo...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Animal Prints
