Artwork

The Jockey (Le jockey)

The Jockey (Le jockey), by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, ink, 1899
The Jockey (Le jockey), by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, ink, 1899

The Jockey (Le jockey) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Jockey is a 1899 color lithograph on Chinese paper by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, capturing a horse and rider in motion.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a jockey bent low over a galloping horse's neck, conveying speed and energy. The blurred background, featuring other riders and a fence, emphasizes the dynamic movement of the central figures.

Technique & Style

Toulouse-Lautrec employed loose, expressive lines to convey motion, creating a sense of rapid execution. The lithographic technique allowed for bold, vibrant colors and a fluid representation of the scene.

Context

The work reflects Toulouse-Lautrec's interest in contemporary sporting culture and the visual language of poster art, as well as his unique perspective as an artist with a physical disability and an outsider within high society.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.