The Races at Longchamp
1866
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1866
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
The Races at Longchamp is a 1866 oil by Edouard Manet, a Impressionism work, held at Art Institute of Chicago.
You see horses charging straight at you, hooves kicking up dirt, jockeys leaning low over their necks. Manet painted this race from the finish line, not the sidelines. Most artists showed horses in profile, but here they rush forward, making the viewer feel the speed. The loose brushstrokes make the scene feel alive, not stiff. If you like this, look up *impasto*—the thick, textured paint Manet used to make the dirt and movement pop.
