Study of a Jockey
c. 1884
Degas was absolutely obsessed with the racetrack, but instead of just capturing the thrill of the finish line, he loved studying the quiet, exhausted moments of the jockeys themselves. In this expressive sketch, a young rider slumps forward in his riding cap, looking thoroughly worn out after a long day in the saddle. The loose, energetic strokes perfectly capture the heavy drape of his clothes and the slumped posture of a tired athlete, showing us the human side behind the glamorous sport of horse racing.
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