Black Horse in a Stable c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Théodore Géricault's "Black Horse in a Stable." The lithographic rendering is just stunning. What strikes me is how the artist captured the musculature of the animal, likely through a laborious lithographic process. What stands out to you? Curator: I'm interested in the horse's labor. We see the marks of its use: the blanket, the confined space of the stable. Consider the economic reality: the horse as a commodity, and the labor involved in its care and maintenance. How does Géricault present this relationship between human and animal labor? Editor: It’s true. The horse is beautiful, but it’s also clearly a working animal, a product of human industry. The lithograph itself, then, is also a product of labor, isn't it? Thank you. Curator: Precisely. The means of production shape both the artwork and its subject.