Race horses 1888

Edgar Degas made this painting of race horses, whose date is currently unknown, while living through a period of significant social change. It's important to reflect on what it meant to paint racehorses during the late 19th century. Degas painted the privileged world of horse racing, capturing a moment in time with layered meanings about class, leisure, and the male gaze. The painting shows the anatomy of the horses and the riders in a seemingly natural, candid style. But it can also be interpreted as a reflection of social inequalities; the wealth on display contrasts with the labor required to maintain such spectacles. These horses are depicted at rest, but there is a sense of expectation. They are held back, held to the class system which they represent. Degas isn't just painting horses; he's painting a portrait of a society on the cusp of change, a society where leisure and labor are intimately intertwined.