Trustee 

"Trustee" was created by Currier and Ives, a prominent printmaking firm in 19th-century America. They captured and shaped the popular imagination through mass-produced images. Here, a racehorse named Trustee is shown pulling a sulky, a lightweight cart, driven by a man with a pipe, during a race. This print reflects the growing popularity of harness racing, a sport deeply entwined with themes of wealth, leisure, and masculine identity. While seemingly a simple depiction of a sporting event, this artwork touches on complex intersections of class, race, and labor. Consider the labor of the horse, and, by contrast, the man's leisure pursuit. These images circulated widely, shaping perceptions and reinforcing cultural values. Consider the relationship between commerce and art, and the narratives around race and class.