León Lafourcade, Horse Race, 1890s, Acrylic on Canvas

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Acrylic on canvas “horse race”, león lafourcade, ff. S. Xix – france

exquisite painting by léolaf, artistic name of león … Read more Acrylic on canvas “horse race”, león lafourcade, ff. S. Xix – france

exquisite painting by léolaf, artistic name of león lafourcade, an artist of french origin active between the 19th and 20th centuries. He participated in various exhibitions, some at the salon des artistes indépendants. It represents an equestrian scene of riders in full race, capturing the energy and dynamism of the moment. An expressive use of brushstrokes can be seen, with loose and fluid strokes that suggest movement and speed, especially in the background, with a diffuse or ethereal finish. The hazy atmosphere contributes to this feeling. The riders wear the characteristic red equestrian jacket and riding helmet. For their part, the horses are all in full jump, creating a broad sensation of dynamism.

horse racing became highly prestigious social events, one of the favorite pastimes of the upper classes in europe at the time. The elite used these types of events to show off and build relationships. The high consideration and dynamism of this type of event made it an attractive subject for artists such as degas, théodore géricault, meissonier, among others. In this case, lafourcade uses expressive brushstrokes to capture the energy of the racecourse, striking a balance between figuration and atmospheric suggestion.

in a context in which the privileged classes flaunted their power and position through their leisure and free time, horse racing rose as one of their favorite activities to bet on. The sponsorship by authorities such as charles ii of england and louis xiv of france is proof of the value and consideration of this sport in society. The first horse races organized as official competitions were held thanks to the patronage of the nobility.

a crucial period for the consolidation of horse racing as a sport was the 18th and 19th centuries. It was in the 18th century when selective horse breeding was formalized. In addition to its popularization in france thanks to the impulse of napoleon bonaparte who promoted this activity because it was seen as a good strategy to improve the quality of military horses. Already in the 19th century, the construction of modern racecourses began. However, the period of maximum splendor of this sport occurred in the 20th century, expanding to latin america, australia, japan and the middle east. Technological innovations allowed the automation of betting and its broadcast on television and radio, expanding its global audience.

technique on support: acrylic on canvas
title of the work: “horse race”
author: león lafourcade “léolaf”
signed in the lower left corner and on the back
period: end of the 19th century
country of origin: paris, france
good condition according to its age and use
overall dimensions: 72.5 x 115.5 x 2 cm. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less