The Sportsman Mounting His Horse

The Sportsman Mounting His Horse by Edgar Degas, executed in 1856, is a significant early work demonstrating the artist's foundational commitment to printmaking. This impression, classified as an etching, is specifically documented as the fifth and final state, pulled after the original plate had been intentionally canceled. This practice ensured the exclusivity and finite nature of the edition, a standard procedure in high-quality print production. The depiction focuses on a narrative moment involving the interaction between men and horses, subjects Degas would return to consistently throughout his career.

Created when Degas was just 22, the precise draftsmanship and classical approach seen here reflect the academic training he was receiving. Although the composition is relatively small, the artist captures the weight and posture of the powerful animal alongside the poised figure of the sportsman. The detail illustrates Degas’s careful study of movement and anatomy, essential skills that underpinned his later groundbreaking works. This early period of experimentation with the etching technique shows his dedication to line and form before his more expressive Impressionist phase. As a crucial record of the artist's youthful technical mastery, this print provides important context for understanding his evolution from academic draftsman to one of the leading figures of modern French art. This important etching resides within the distinguished collection of prints and drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.