Dire ... que c'st comme ça qu'on améliore les chevaux ... c. 19th century

This lithograph, made by Honoré Daumier, depicts the 'bons bourgeois'—the good middle class—observing a horse race, a spectacle of speed and social status. Here, the whip, or cravache, takes center stage, not just as a tool for urging horses forward, but as a symbol of control and perhaps even a means of 'improvement,' as the text suggests. This resonates across time—the impulse to dominate and refine, echoing in ancient equestrian sculptures where the rider's posture and control over the horse mirror societal hierarchies. Think of the Roman equestrian statues, where the horse symbolizes power, directed by the rider's will. Daumier slyly hints at the application of this principle beyond the racetrack, humorously suggesting the husband might apply the same methods to 'improve' his wife. It’s a dark jest, underscoring societal attitudes and the perennial, cyclical return of controlling impulses throughout history. The image's power lies in its ability to tap into our collective memory of dominance, stirring both laughter and unease.