Hippodrome in Mannheim 

Wilhelm Kalb made this sketch of the Hippodrome in Mannheim with pencil. The image is a window into the world of leisure and spectacle in early 20th-century Germany, a time of rapid industrialization and shifting social structures. Hippodromes, as entertainment venues, became popular spaces where different social classes could converge, reflecting and reinforcing existing hierarchies. Kalb's sketch employs quick, fluid lines to capture the dynamism of the equestrian performance. The presence of spectators in top hats suggests a bourgeois audience, hinting at the social stratification present even in leisure activities. Mannheim, an industrial city, would have been a prime location for such spectacles, offering a temporary escape from the routines of modern life. To understand this artwork more fully, we can consult social histories of leisure, archival materials related to the Mannheim Hippodrome, and biographical studies of Wilhelm Kalb. This research will help reveal the complex relationships between art, entertainment, and society in this period.