Renbaan 1884

Hans Schmidt made this print called "Renbaan" using etching. Looking at the image, we see a horse race, a spectacle of speed and skill, but also of social hierarchy. Horse racing in the Netherlands, as elsewhere, was a pastime of the elite. It provided a space for demonstrating wealth and status through owning fine horses. The carriages, the attire of the spectators, and even the architecture of the stands all speak to a society stratified by class and wealth. Made in the late 19th or early 20th century, this print captures a moment in Dutch history when the old aristocratic order was slowly giving way to new social forces. The presence of a diverse crowd hints at the gradual democratization of leisure. To understand the work better, you might research the history of horse racing in the Netherlands, the social structure of the time, and the role of art in reflecting and shaping social change.