To Go Beyond Thought: A Formalist Evaluation on Reading the Rulebook
- deskvalor
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
By: Emren Manalastas
Introduction
Manuel Ocampo’s Reading the Rulebook (2018) is a painting that addresses the structure of laws enforced by the government and how they shape the country. The painting features numerous horses in different stances, as well as different hues that symbolize the connection between animals and humans. Reading the rulebook means doing something that is in accordance with what is socially accepted (Merriam-Webster, 2025).
The artwork contains the hallmarks of his signature works, merging his experiences into the canvas. This painting ought to illustrate how individuals interact with the rules that govern them. Ocampo's style is often distinguished by his use of gritty brushwork and vibrant colors, as well as his dark humor and frequently morbid subject matter (Artsy, 2018). A formalist approach to this artwork would focus solely on the text's fundamental aspects, including structure, language, and form.
Body
The composition of this art piece is complex. The artwork is not easy on the eyes, rather, this piece has a visual disarray that compels every element that it is made out of. A wide range of colors is utilized which manages to capture that somber, yet desperate ambiance that the painting expresses. However, despite the stark contrast between the dullish colors used for the background and the bright clothes worn by the animals, providing a sense of respite and alleviate the cluttered details on the canvas.
The painting’s evident texture also adds to the impact of his work. Some brush strokes are shown to be smooth, while some are left unblended to showcase particular details. A few examples of these would be the red marks scratched on the wall and the different highlights on their clothes. The abstract qualities of this artwork, such as the messy lines and the distinct shapes concoct into an art form that makes the painting pleasant to look at. Some areas have rougher brushwork, which produces chaotic depths in the lines and shapes created through them. Each stroke left on the canvas contributes to the expressive nature of this painting, offering a visceral feeling that engages people’s attention.
Critical Analysis
Ocampo’s use of symbolism was brought into play, metaphorically using animals to present them as human characterization. Animals have always been the catalyst for an integral role when it comes to human portrayals. They tend to be victims of personification and take place for people, not just in paintings, but most commonly in fables and storybooks. Moreover, the personification of animals in art is considered normal, making most of us inherently accept animals as representative symbols of human characteristics. Artists simply have this underlying desire to liberate animals as figurative placeholders for humans in art (Woertendyke, 2012).
One of the painting’s main attributes is the animals that are explicitly displayed for the audience to see. The main animals that the painting revolves around are horses. Horses are well known to be associated with power, spirit, and freedom in artworks (Reed, 2018). There are 4 horses of different categories: (1) The mature-looking horse, dressed in full attire and groomed appropriately who seems to be in charge; (2) the horse whose hooves are against the rulebook; (3) the two horses who seem desperate to see or reach the rulebook; and (4) the horse whose eyes are not shown and is partly hidden behind the desperate ones.
As mentioned in the earlier paragraph, the horses illustrated in the painting may have been used to provide a visual hierarchy of the 4, depicting the first horse to be the one governing, the second horse that is forced to obey, the 2 horses who are desperate to see, and the horse that cannot see. This is an act of symbolism that can be similarly compared to the natural hierarchy of human society. Consequently, humans try to obtain multiple statuses. Social hierarchies are often governed by those who are more dominant than the rest. (Redhead & Power, 2022).
Similar to that, this painting wishes to delineate the same situation that occurs in real life. The art piece wants to imply how adhering to the governmental laws created by the government can make a person feel stuck. All the while, they feel like they are watched by those who hold authority should they try to disobey the enforced laws. There are others who will complain or attempt to pry at the situation at hand, just like how there are those who will choose to keep a blind eye.
Conclusion
Manuel Ocampo’s Reading the Rulebook (2018) is a painting that delves into more than what meets the eye. The artwork is more than just an abstract visual experience, rendering emphasis on the hierarchy and governmental systems. The painting explores the structure of enforced laws and their impact on the country. The painting features numerous horses in various positions, with colors, shapes, and textures providing depth and more meaning. The painting symbolizes the connection between animals and humans, as reading the rulebook means doing something in accordance with socially accepted norms. The picture attempts to depict a situation in real life in which adherence to government laws can make people feel trapped and observed by those who are in power.
REFERENCE LIST
Artsy. (2018). Manuel Ocampo | Reading the Rulebook (2018) https://www.artsy.net/artwork/manuel-ocampo-reading-the-rulebook
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Rule book. In Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20book#:~:text=:%20a%20book%20that%20contains%20the,throwing%20aw
ay%20the%20rule%20book.
Redhead, D. & Power, E. A. (2022). Social hierarchies and social networks in humans. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Science.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0440
Reed, C. (2018). The powerful story of the horse as seen in art. Seaside Art Gallery.
Woertendyke, M. (2012). What is the role of animals in art? The Juilliard School. https://journal.juilliard.edu/journal/what-role-animals-art
Comments