The Races at Longchamp

Jean-Louis Forain

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a horse racing event with a crowd of spectators. Close to us, people stand or sit on chairs, most with their backs turned to us, facing the race. Some people stand on the light brown chairs for a better view. The women wear long, colorful dresses and hold parasols, while the men wear suit jackets in shades of gray with black top hats. Behind the crowd, towards the center of the painting, is a long strip of green grass where riders on horseback race towards the left, visible over the heads of spectators. Across from us, on the other side of the green expanse, another crowd of onlookers is gathered, along with a few cream-colored tents. Beyond that is more green grass and darker green trees. The sky above is light blue with soft clouds in shades of cream and peach.