Scene from the Steeplechase - the Fallen Jockey 1866

Edgar Degas captured a scene from the steeplechase with pastel on paper. Dominating the foreground, the fallen jockey lies prone, a stark symbol of vulnerability amidst the chaos of the race. Consider the recurring motif of the fall in art history. From the fall of Icarus to the deposition of Christ, the act of falling embodies a transition from grace to suffering. The jockey's fall, similarly, signifies a loss of control, a descent from triumph to defeat, echoing deeper anxieties about fate and mortality. This image evokes a visceral reaction. The fallen body, exposed and helpless, triggers a primal empathy within us. Degas masterfully taps into our collective memory, reminding us of the fragility of human existence. This scene resonates with the non-linear progression of symbols, reappearing and evolving across different eras, each time carrying echoes of its predecessors.