Horse Trotting, the Feet Not Touching the Ground 1878 - 1920

Edgar Degas created this bronze sculpture, "Horse Trotting, the Feet Not Touching the Ground," to explore movement, a focus that reflects the cultural fascination with science and technology emerging in the late 19th century. Degas was deeply engaged with depicting modern life, particularly the spectacle of horse racing which was closely tied to social class. Horse ownership and equestrian skill were hallmarks of aristocratic identity and masculine power. Here, Degas challenges traditional heroic equestrian statues by focusing on a fleeting moment of a race rather than idealized grandeur. Observe how Degas captures the horse suspended in motion, defying gravity. This exploration was informed by the groundbreaking photography of Eadweard Muybridge, who captured sequential images of horses running. Consider the societal implications of freezing moments in time, and how the boundaries between art and science blurred, challenging traditional modes of representation. The sculpture invites us to contemplate how power, technology, and representation intersect.