Man Riding a Horse through the Air 1860 - 1870

François-Nicolas Chifflart created “Man Riding a Horse through the Air” using graphite and black chalk, but the specific date remains unknown. Chifflart's lifespan coincided with significant political and social upheaval in France, including the rise and fall of empires and the burgeoning industrial revolution. The figure on horseback evokes a sense of romantic heroism, a theme that resonated deeply in 19th-century French art, particularly in the wake of the Napoleonic era. But what does it mean to depict a man, an equestrian, seemingly unbound by gravity? Is this an expression of power, a yearning for freedom, or perhaps a critique of earthly constraints? Chifflart’s choice of medium—the starkness of graphite and black chalk—adds to the drama, emphasizing the emotional weight of the scene. The image leaves us pondering the intertwined themes of aspiration and the burdens of human experience during a time of profound transformation.