Flora Temple 

Editor: This chromolithograph is entitled "Flora Temple," and it's by Currier and Ives. It depicts a harness race, and the horse, Flora Temple, is really taking off! The colours are so delicate. I wonder, what’s the first thing you notice about this piece? Curator: It’s the overt celebration of speed and technology married with nature that grabs me. This image reflects a specific moment in American history where industrialization and agrarian life weren't necessarily seen as oppositional. Note how the lithograph, as a mass-reproducible medium, democratized access to this kind of imagery. How might the horse, as a symbol, intersect with ideas of labor, freedom, and even gender in the 19th century? Editor: I never thought of it that way. I was just admiring the streamlined form of the horse and the vibrant colours of the jockey’s vest. You're making me think about it representing so much more than just a sporting event. Curator: Exactly! Think about who had access to these horses and races. The leisure and wealth involved highlights socio-economic divides. The driver also exerts control – we might want to explore that power dynamic further. The tension and the horse's power within the harness says so much about freedom and restraint, isn't it? Editor: It is. I guess I’m seeing it as less of an innocent portrayal of a race and more as a snapshot of societal tensions. Curator: Precisely! Considering how representations of animals – especially in popular art – can reinforce or challenge existing power structures is vital. I think we’ve both expanded our understanding of how popular imagery operates.