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

This is a chromolithograph card of Tea Tray from The World's Racers series, printed by Allen & Ginter. Here we see the horse and jockey, symbols of nobility and speed, echoing equestrian statues found since antiquity. These images evoke notions of triumph and power. From Ancient Greece to Rome, horses were linked to the divine, symbolizing solar chariots and military prowess. Notice how the dynamic potential of the horse, captured mid-stride, carries a psychological charge, creating a feeling of anticipation and latent energy. Consider the image of a horse in motion—a symbol that reappears throughout history in tapestries and paintings. Each instance carries echoes of the past, yet also adapts to its own cultural moment, reflecting our enduring fascination with the animal. The horse continues to appear, resurfacing and evolving. It becomes clear that these cultural symbols have a life of their own, transcending time and evolving to reflect humanity's changing values and obsessions.