Jockey à cheval 

Edgar Degas made this drawing, titled "Jockey à cheval," in France during the late 19th or early 20th century. Degas was fascinated by modern life, especially the spectacle of the racetrack and the ballet. He captured these scenes with an immediacy that challenged academic traditions. Horse racing in France had become closely associated with aristocratic culture in this period, as the upper classes enjoyed gambling and displays of wealth. What makes this drawing progressive is its focus on the ephemeral moment. Degas captures the jockey and horse in motion, rather than as idealized figures. It breaks with the conventions of equestrian portraiture that were used for centuries to aggrandize power. The sketch-like quality speaks to the rise of Impressionism and its emphasis on capturing fleeting moments of modern life. To understand Degas’s work better, we might look at archival material, like period publications on horse racing, and other sketches he produced while working at the racetrack. Through that we can get a better sense of its place within the social and cultural landscape of its time.