Jockey op een Engels volbloedpaard

Jockey op een Engels volbloedpaard by Théodore Géricault is a significant print created in 1823. Executed using the specialized chine collé technique, this piece captures the artist's enduring fascination with equine subjects, a core theme that preoccupied Géricault throughout his career, often serving as a counterpoint to his large-scale historical paintings.

Géricault, a defining figure of the Romantic movement, frequently depicted scenes of intense action and controlled power. Here, the focus is squarely on the connection between the jockey and the formidable English Thoroughbred. While the exact moment captured is ambiguous, the detailed anatomy of the horse and the tight composition emphasize speed and athleticism, reflecting the growing cultural importance of horse racing in early 19th-century Europe, particularly after the Napoleonic wars.

The use of chine collé a printing process where a thin piece of paper (the chine) is adhered to a heavier backing sheet during the printing of the plate allows for a unique tonal depth and textural richness difficult to achieve through standard etching or lithography alone. This technical choice enabled Géricault to maintain the expressive spontaneity of his preparatory drawings while producing prints suitable for a broader public audience.

As an important example of French Romantic prints, Jockey op een Engels volbloedpaard is held in the prestigious collection of the Rijksmuseum, contributing to the museum's comprehensive holdings of graphic arts. These influential prints helped cement Géricault’s reputation across Europe. Today, due to its historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of this masterwork are often made available through public domain initiatives.