Fallen Jockey (study for "Scene from the Steeplechase: The Fallen Jockey")

Fallen Jockey (study for "Scene from the Steeplechase: The Fallen Jockey") by Edgar Degas is a powerful graphite drawing executed on blue paper, created during the dynamic period between 1866 and 1881. Classified as a preparatory drawing, this piece exemplifies the artist’s intense engagement with capturing the dynamics of modern Parisian life. The use of blue paper provides a rich, neutralizing mid-tone ground, allowing Degas to explore the highlights and deep shadows of the subject matter with remarkable economy of line. Created during the period of 1851 to 1875, this work originated from the rich artistic environment of French culture, where Degas was moving away from traditional academic training toward the experimental observation that defined his Impressionist-adjacent style.

The subject, derived from the thrilling and often dangerous world of the steeplechase, focuses on the immediate aftermath of an accident. Degas, famous for his detailed depictions of both ballet dancers and racehorses, treated the animal and the fallen rider with the same rigorous, almost scientific attention to anatomy and motion. This study concentrates specifically on the pose of the injured or fallen figure, demonstrating the artist’s method of isolating complex elements before integrating them into a larger composition, such as the intended painting Scene from the Steeplechase: The Fallen Jockey. The rapid, sure lines of the graphite sketch convey the vulnerability and sudden violence of the fall, reflecting Degas's consistent effort to freeze moments of spontaneous action.

The lengthy timeline spanning 1866 to 1881 suggests that Degas returned to this motif over many years, continuously refining the dramatic potential of the scene in successive studies. As a significant example of his preparatory work in the French drawing tradition, this specific piece resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. While the original drawing is a unique and fragile artifact, the enduring interest in Degas’s draftsmanship means that high-quality prints and reproductions are often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing widespread scholarly access to the masterworks created during the pivotal 1851 to 1875 era.