![Louis Anquetin - At The Races [c.1895]](http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/26315752650_3a6d66cea0_o.jpg)
In the background we see the iconic looped post that marked the finish line at Longchamp, which was, and remains, the most prestigious racecourse in France, hosting the world-renowned Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. For Anquetin and his contemporaries, Longchamp showcased modern society; in the foreground a woman enthusiastically displays herself to two gentlemen. They are surrounded by other representatives of the beau monde, nearly all of whom turn to observe the main protagonists. Scarcely visible in the background are the horses and the jockeys walking out to the course; the attendees clearly exhibit more interest in each other than in the race.
[Sotheby’s, New York - Oil on canvas, 105 x 147 cm]