The Hesitant Steps of a Coward

Title: The Hesitant Steps of a Coward
Artist: Manelich
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year: 2023

In The Hesitant Steps of a Coward, Williams explores the psychological tension between movement and paralysis, fear and action. The fragmented, skeletal figure seems to be in motion yet shackled by hesitation, stitched together by past wounds, marked by uncertainty. The jagged lines and chaotic energy of the composition reflect an internal struggle—each step forward feels unstable, as though the ground itself is resisting.

The bold contrast between black, red, and yellow intensifies the sense of conflict. Red, often associated with passion and danger, bleeds into the figure's path, as if warning of consequences ahead. The stitches and exposed bones symbolize past wounds that never fully healed, reinforcing the idea that hesitation is often born from past pain. The number "2" lingers in the background, possibly a reminder of second chances—or second thoughts.

This piece is an emotional study of self-doubt, a visual representation of the moments when fear overrides action. The Hesitant Steps of a Coward asks us to consider: Is it hesitation or self-preservation? Is it cowardice or wisdom? And most importantly—will the next step ever be taken?