Horse races 

Max Liebermann captured "Horse Races" with dynamic brushstrokes and earthy tones. Notice how the composition divides the canvas: below, a field of ochre and green, and above, a turbulent sky of greys and muted blues. These colours evoke a feeling of movement and energy. Liebermann’s impressionistic style invites us to consider the nature of representation itself. Rather than aiming for photographic accuracy, Liebermann focuses on capturing the sensation of speed and the excitement of the race. The horses and jockeys are rendered with loose, gestural marks, blurring the distinction between figure and ground. This technique challenges traditional notions of form, suggesting that reality is not fixed but constantly in flux. Liebermann's emphasis on the process of painting itself – the visible brushstrokes and the play of light – reflects a broader shift in artistic thinking, one that privileges subjective experience over objective representation. It compels us to engage with the artwork not just as a depiction of a scene, but as a record of a visual experience.