The Jockey

"The Jockey," a powerful drawing by Edgar Degas, created between 1885 and 1900, exemplifies the artist's continued fascination with equestrian life and the modern spectacle of the racetrack. This piece is classified as a drawing and is a commanding example of Degas’s mastery of charcoal, a medium he frequently utilized to capture swift movement and dynamic poses. Working primarily in France during the late 19th century, Degas was central to the Impressionist movement, though his focus on line and internal composition often separated him from his peers.

This charcoal study depicts the intense focus and posture of the subject, concentrating heavily on the weight, stance, and potential energy inherent in the pause before or after a race. The spontaneity afforded by the medium allowed Degas to explore variations in form, suggesting that the work may have been a preparatory exploration for a later oil painting or pastel. Degas’s consistent attention to details of contemporary Parisian life, particularly the spectacle of the races, demonstrates his commitment to recording modern experience rather than relying on traditional historical themes. This significant work resides in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it serves as a crucial document of the artist’s prolific output. As a celebrated example of French art from this period, high-quality prints derived from this piece are often accessible through public domain resources, aiding scholarly research and appreciation worldwide.