The Painting

Title: Carousel Horse
Artist: Signed “S. Gensuo”
Date: 1978
Medium: Oil on canvas
Signature: Lower right, “S. Gensuo 78”
Frame: Period 1970s wood frame

Product Description

Capture the magic of Santa Cruz’s seaside amusement history with this original 1978 oil painting of a carousel horse, signed by S. Gensuo. Richly detailed, the horse’s proud profile, ornate bridle, and flowing mane are painted with lifelike realism that draws the viewer into the scene. Behind it, the glow of carousel lights and neighboring horses reinforce the nostalgia of the Boardwalk’s midway.

Framed in its original 1970s wooden frame, this piece is ideal for collectors of equestrian art, Santa Cruz history, carousel memorabilia, or 20th-century realist painting.

About the Artist

Little is currently published about S. Gensuo, but the work demonstrates the skill of a realist painter with a strong eye for nostalgic Americana. Carousel imagery was a popular motif in the 1970s, with artists celebrating the craftsmanship of carved fairground horses and the timeless joy of amusement parks. This signed 1978 example, very likely depicting a horse from the historic Looff Carousel at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, shows fine attention to texture, lifelike detail, and the glossy surface of a carousel horse. It stands out as both equestrian art and vintage carnival memorabilia.