Rider in a Red Coat 1868

Editor: This is Edgar Degas's "Rider in a Red Coat," created around 1868 using pastel. The immediacy of the strokes gives the work an unfinished quality, almost like a fleeting glimpse of a figure on horseback. What story do you think Degas is trying to tell? Curator: This work, beyond its surface depiction, engages with the historical fascination of the leisure classes in late 19th century France. Consider how the accessibility of horse riding shifted, becoming more entwined with social status. Does the subject’s turned back imply something about spectatorship? Who is watching, who is being watched? And what power dynamics might those gazes entail? Editor: That’s a very interesting take! It's almost like the viewer is an intruder. Does the Impressionistic style, which prioritizes capturing a momentary sensation, also play into the themes of societal change? Curator: Absolutely. The impressionistic style inherently challenged the academic norms of art production and reception, which had very strict standards about subject matter, technique, and finishing. Its choice to capture a snapshot, instead of some epic historical or biblical painting, directly reflects societal interest in a more quotidian setting. Degas isn’t depicting royalty, but those who, because of the socio-economic conditions of the time, had enough wealth to imitate royalty in some aspects of their leisure, though notably without royal approval. Editor: So, it is about fleeting leisure. I hadn't thought about it in terms of challenging traditional hierarchies. Curator: Precisely! Considering those elements invites reflection on how art captures and influences cultural shifts, including the portrayal of wealth and status. Editor: I see it in a completely different light now. Thanks so much!