Racing 1934

Sybil Andrews made this linocut print, “Racing,” sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. The image depicts a horse race, simplified into bold blocks of color and dynamic curves. This was a period when artists across Europe were embracing abstraction, partly inspired by new technologies and the accelerated pace of modern life. Andrews was associated with the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in London, where printmaking was taught as a democratic art form, accessible to a wider audience. Linocuts, with their graphic simplicity, were well-suited to this aim. But what does it mean to make horse racing the subject of modern art? In Britain, the sport has long been associated with wealth, power, and tradition. This print both celebrates and simplifies it, making it an exciting image for a more egalitarian society. By studying the history of printmaking, the Grosvenor School, and the changing social landscape of Britain, we can better understand the cultural meanings embedded in this seemingly simple image.