The Races c. 1865 - 1872

Editor: Here we have Edouard Manet’s "The Races," a sketch of sorts. It feels unfinished, almost a blur of motion and excitement. How do you read this piece, especially considering Manet's position in Parisian society? Curator: Manet's impression offers a crucial lens into 19th-century Parisian culture. Horseracing was intrinsically linked to class, power, and masculine identity. How does this seemingly fleeting depiction reflect or challenge the social stratification of the time? Editor: It's interesting that you mention class, as the sketch only vaguely depicts the people in attendance. Curator: Exactly! Manet prompts us to question who has access to leisure, to spectacle. The impressionistic style itself can be read as a challenge to the rigid academic painting style, a rebellion against tradition. Does the ambiguity of form mirror the social ambiguities of a rapidly changing society? Editor: I see your point. Thank you. Curator: Of course. It is a piece to keep thinking about.