Sketch 

Odilon Redon made this pastel sketch in France during the late 19th or early 20th century. It depicts a mass of horses and riders before a stark, fortress-like structure. Redon came to maturity as an artist in a period defined by political upheaval. After the Franco-Prussian war, he was among a generation of artists in France who turned away from direct political commentary. Instead they focused on the exploration of inner states of mind. Redon's use of dream-like imagery could be seen as a reaction against the positivist ideologies of the late 19th century. Art history is about understanding such cultural shifts. By examining the writings of artists and critics, we can better understand how art reflects and responds to its historical moment. The beauty of art lies in its entanglement with the social and institutional contexts that make it meaningful.