Study of a Jockey (M. de Broutelles) (c. 1884)

"Study of a Jockey (M. de Broutelles)" by Edgar Degas, created around 1884, offers an intriguing glimpse into the character and mental state of its subject through the artistic mastery of one of the leading figures of Impressionism. This drawing showcases two different headshots of a jockey, each captured with remarkable detail and expressive line work that conveys both concentration and fatigue.In the foreground, we see a closer, downward gaze of the jockey, wearing a cap that casts a shadow over his introspective expression. His visage suggests exhaustion or perhaps a moment of contemplation, highlighting the strain and the psychological dimensions of horse racing. The background features a more distant profile of the same jockey, turned away, which complements the intimate portrayal in the front by displaying another angle and more of the environment around the jockey.Degas, well-known for his studies of movement and his works on dancers, also had a profound interest in the world of horse racing, capturing the dynamism and the intensity of this sport through various mediums. This particular sketch not only provides insight into the artist’s capability to depict human emotion and physicality with minimal strokes but also reflects Degas’s ongoing fascination with the themes of labor and leisure that permeate his broader body of work.