Meisje met wit paard c. 1895 - 1900

Jacques-Émile Blanche created this print of a girl and a white horse with etching. Made in France at the turn of the 20th century, it presents us with a scene of bourgeois leisure. Consider the social context: Blanche, a portraitist of the Parisian elite, captured a world of privilege. Horses, then a signifier of wealth and status, were potent symbols of power. Note the girl’s dress; it speaks to a life of comfort. The muted tones and soft lines evoke a sense of nostalgia, perhaps reflecting the artist’s own longing for a bygone era. But what about the girl and the horse? Is there a connection or social tension between them? Does this image represent a conservative or progressive stance towards French society and its institutions? To understand Blanche’s work fully, we need to delve into the archives of the French Belle Époque. By examining the social, economic, and artistic currents of the time, we can better grasp the meanings embedded within this seemingly simple image.