Paardenrace 1820

Carl Gustaf Hjalmar Mörner created this print of a horse race, though its exact date remains unknown. It offers a window into the spectacles of the early 19th century. Horse races during this period were not merely sporting events; they were social rituals deeply embedded in the cultural fabric. Often associated with aristocracy and military prowess, they served as displays of wealth, status, and power. The active participation of the military in the audience suggests how such events were intertwined with expressions of national identity and strength. Mörner's work invites us to consider whose stories are being told and whose are left out. While the print captures the excitement of the race, it also subtly reinforces a social hierarchy where access to leisure and visibility is skewed. "Paardenrace" thus becomes an artifact reflecting both the thrills and the structural inequalities of its time.