The artwork titled “Jockeys Training” is a genre painting by Edgar Degas, created between 1883 and 1890. Reflecting the Impressionist movement, Degas captures a moment of everyday life with a particular focus on the dynamism and athleticism of equestrian subjects.
In this artwork, the viewer’s attention is drawn to a scene of jockeys mounted on their horses, possibly during a training session. The composition features a range of horses and riders in various positions, stretching across the width of the canvas. The horses are depicted in different shades of brown and red, simulating movement and liveliness. Each jockey is dressed in colorful racing silks, adding vibrancy to the piece.
Degas’ technique in this work is characterized by loose and expressive brushstrokes, a hallmark of the Impressionist style which sought to capture the play of light and momentary impressions rather than detailed realism. The background is rendered in muted tones, while the foreground highlights the figures with more intense colors and pronounced outlines. The horizontal expanse of the artwork, punctuated by the repeated forms of the horses and riders, conveys a sense of motion and continuity. It is an embodiment of Degas’ interests in movement and his ability to convey the essence of a subject through his distinctive impressionistic technique.
