Trabrennen VIII 

Max Slevogt made this drawing, Trabrennen VIII, using graphite on paper. Slevogt was a German Impressionist, part of a generation of artists who, towards the end of the 19th century, started looking at modern life for their subject matter. In this lively sketch, Slevogt depicts a horse race, capturing the energy of the event and the excitement of the crowd. Horse racing in Germany at the time was very popular with all classes of society, and was heavily promoted as an activity that brought people together. The way the spectacle attracted a diverse audience from different social strata is an important detail. The drawing is unfinished. The loose lines and fleeting strokes give us a sense of a moment in time. To better understand Slevogt, studying the history of leisure activities in Germany, and his association with the Berlin Secession, would give us a clearer understanding of the social context in which he lived and worked.