Woman on horseback 1847 - 1890

Editor: This is John-Lewis Brown’s "Woman on Horseback," made sometime between 1847 and 1890. It’s an etching, and it feels so delicately rendered. I’m curious about the subtle erotic undertones. What catches your eye? Curator: The setting and the subject position it firmly within a specific social milieu of the time, doesn't it? Consider the rise of the bourgeoisie and their leisure activities. Horseback riding, especially for women, was becoming a fashionable pastime. How might this artwork reinforce or challenge the social norms of the era? Editor: So it's about class and status? The leisure aspect makes sense. But "erotic art"? Is it pushing against conservative expectations by sexualizing horseback riding? Curator: It's important to recognize how representations of women, particularly in art intended for private consumption like prints, often reflected and reinforced societal views, particularly surrounding female sexuality and control. Consider her attire, posture, the implied gaze. It hints at societal expectations while possibly subtly challenging them. Could it be argued that portraying a woman so leisurely, outside, astride such a powerful animal represents an attempt to grant some agency to a figure otherwise socially confined? Editor: I didn't really notice those things before! It's like it has layers of meaning depending on your perspective. Thanks for highlighting the subtle cues, and how it reflected the society of the time. Curator: Of course. Considering artwork as products *of* their social times helps us view the image from new angles, questioning assumptions, and expanding on previous assumptions.