The artwork “Jockey” was created by Edgar Degas in 1882. Characterized as a sketch and study, it is executed in charcoal and aligned with the Impressionism movement. The piece is housed at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, UK. The subject matter illustrates Degas’s interest in horses and the individuals who work with them, which is a recurring theme in many of his works.
In this charcoal sketch, the artwork depicts a jockey mounted on a horse, although the horse is not fully visible within the frame. The jockey is leaning forward, presumably mid-gallop, captured in a dynamic and energetic posture. The sketch is fluid and vibrant, with sweeping lines that suggest motion and the tension involved in horse racing. The jockey’s attire is lightly detailed, and the focus is on the form and anatomy, showcasing Degas’s skilled draftsmanship. The composition mainly focuses on the upper body of the jockey and the movement, with less emphasis on the surroundings, which are not detailed and serve merely as a backdrop to the central figure.
