Felix Innokentievich Belsky's "Equestrian" (1983) is a masterful exploration of motion, capturing the essence of a steeplechase through an expressionist lens. At the heart of the composition, a horse and rider surge forward in a dramatic leap, their forms elongated and simplified to capture the essence of motion. The central horse and rider dominate the upper two-thirds of the canvas, their exaggerated scale and forward momentum drawing the viewer into the action. The brick-red obstacle in the foreground anchors the composition while simultaneously propelling the visual narrative upward

Belsky’s approach in this painting recalls the rhythmic movement, colour, and simplified forms found in Henri Matisse's iconic work, “Dance” (1910). Like Matisse, Belsky distils his figures to their most expressive elements, focusing on the essence of motion rather than detailed realism. The smaller horses and riders in the lower portion of the painting, rendered in a more abstract style, create a rhythmic base that enhances the sense of movement and provides a broader context for the event. These elements, much like Matisse’s dancers, pulse with a life of their own, contributing to the overall dynamism of the composition.