Morning Ride c. 1866

Edgar Degas captured this indistinct scene with oil on canvas, portraying riders on horseback against a muted backdrop. The horse, a symbol of power and freedom since antiquity, carries its riders across a landscape shrouded in mist. We see echoes of equestrian statues of Roman emperors, the horse as a vehicle for control and authority. Yet here, the figures seem almost swallowed by the landscape, their forms blurred, their power diminished. Consider the horse in ancient myth— a symbol of untamed instinct, a primal force. From the mythical centaurs to the steeds of the Valkyries, the horse has long represented a bridge between the earthly and the divine. Over time, the horse has evolved from a symbol of raw power to a domesticated partner, reflecting humanity's changing relationship with nature. This image seems to exist in this transformation, evoking a melancholic sense of lost grandeur. The blurred figures and muted tones evoke a dreamlike quality, inviting us to reflect on the transient nature of power. This image is a testament to the enduring power of symbols, and how our collective memory continues to shape their meaning across time.