Clar Monaco’s painting, “The Rider”, represents his most monumental presentation to date. The almost epic narrative well embodies Monaco's interest in psychological furies unleashed. Crosses, horses, and dogs are some of the personal symbols used to illustrate and occasionally punctuate the narrative. A key to understanding many of the symbols often lies in an inversion of their traditional meanings. The acidic greens, yellows, and oranges combined with vibrant and gestural brushwork impress the viewer with a feeling of impending disaster.

 

 --The Big Pitcher, 20 years of the Abstracted - Figure in Chicago Art