Prøveblad med jockeyer 1795 - 1854

Editor: This is “Prøveblad med jockeyer,” or “Sheet of Studies with Jockeys” by N.B. Krossing, made sometime between 1795 and 1854. It's a pencil and lithograph print featuring multiple sketches of jockeys and horses. The sketches feel very dynamic, but also a bit unfinished. What jumps out at you? Curator: What I find striking is how this "sheet of studies" gives us a peek into the artistic process during that time. These sketches weren't meant for public display, yet here they are, revealing the artist’s interest in capturing movement and form. The inclusion of what looks like spectators in the top register places this work in a particular social context – think of the rise of leisure activities and public spectacles, and the artist engaging with it. Editor: So it’s like a behind-the-scenes look at the world of horseracing and its cultural impact? Curator: Precisely! How was equestrian sport viewed then, do you imagine? Was it solely for the elite or did it offer a shared space? This sheet presents a glimpse of not only the technical process of rendering movement but also how art served to represent social events and ideals. Also notice how it is displayed here. Does placing this work in the gallery elevate its status despite its creation being intended for the private use of the artist? Editor: That makes me think about the politics of representation—who gets depicted, in what ways, and why. Maybe the sketch-like quality humanizes them? I definitely hadn’t considered all of the implications of showing an artist's practice work in a museum setting. Curator: Exactly. What we choose to preserve and display says a lot about our values as a society, doesn’t it? Editor: It certainly does. I appreciate seeing how the choices made regarding this piece, both then and now, highlight broader historical and cultural trends. Thanks!