Jockeys by Edgar Degas

Jockeys

1881

Edgar Degas's Profile Picture

Edgar Degas

1834 - 1917

Location

Yale University Art Gallery (Yale University), New Haven, CT, US
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Artwork details

Medium
painting, oil-paint, impasto
Dimensions
26.3 x 39.8 cm
Location
Yale University Art Gallery (Yale University), New Haven, CT, US
Copyright
Public domain

Tags

#portrait#painting#impressionism#impressionist painting style#oil-paint#oil painting#impasto#group-portraits#genre-painting

About this artwork

Edgar Degas created "Jockeys" with oil on canvas. Here, horses and their riders are captured with a striking immediacy. The horse, a symbol of power and virility since antiquity, is here tamed, domesticated for sport. We might recall the equestrian statues of Roman emperors, a display of dominion, now transformed into a scene of leisure and competition. Even the jockey's cap hints at ancient helmets, a vestige of martial prowess adapted for the racetrack. Consider how the dynamism inherent in the image resonates across time, echoing in everything from ancient friezes depicting chariot races to modern-day sporting events. This image, in its immediacy, speaks to our primal fascination with speed, risk, and the thrill of the contest. A deep, subconscious connection to the energy of the race that transcends time itself.

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