At the Stables, Horse and Dog 1861

Edgar Degas painted 'At the Stables, Horse and Dog' with oils on canvas, sometime in the late 19th century. It depicts a horse in its stall, standing over a small dog. The painting offers a glimpse into the leisure activities of the upper classes in France. Horses at this time were a luxury, and horse racing was a popular pastime for the wealthy. We can consider the ways that Degas’s paintings captured contemporary social life, but also the rise of new visual technologies like photography, which influenced his compositional style. Art historians studying such works consult a range of sources, from exhibition reviews to social histories, and even stud books. These resources help us understand how this painting reflects the social status associated with equestrian culture in nineteenth-century France. By looking at the art within a specific context, we can gain insights into the social and cultural values of the time.