English Horse c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Théodore Géricault's "English Horse," a print, roughly 10 by 13 inches. It feels so precise, almost scientific. What do you see in how it was made? Curator: I see a study in the material conditions of leisure. Look at the etching—the labor involved in producing multiples, democratizing access to images of status. Editor: Status? Curator: Exactly. The horse, the rider's attire—symbols of wealth and power, meticulously rendered. Consider the consumption inherent in equestrian culture. Editor: So, it's less about the horse itself and more about what it represents in society? Curator: Precisely. Géricault uses the print medium to both depict and participate in the circulation of these social values. Editor: I never thought about it that way, focusing on the materials and how they reflect society. Curator: It shifts the focus from the artist's genius to the network of production and consumption.