Oneko, from The World's Racers series (N32) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph, made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette packs, captures Oneko, a celebrated racehorse, mid-stride. The image is dominated by the horse in full gallop, a symbol of speed, power, and, perhaps, man's dominion over nature. The horse's posture, stretched to its limit, resonates with images of swiftness found in antiquity. Consider the winged horses of Greek mythology; Pegasus, for example, embodies not just speed but also inspiration and the soaring of the spirit. Yet, here, the horse is grounded, its power harnessed for sport, for industry. The jockey, rendered small atop the muscular beast, directs this energy, reflecting a similar motif of human control found in classical equestrian statues, like those of Roman emperors. The primal connection between humans and horses taps into a deep psychological current, embodying both freedom and control. It is a partnership that, over centuries, has carried us across landscapes, both real and imagined, a cycle of domestication and aspiration ever-repeating in our collective memory.