Scene from the Steeplechase: The Fallen Jockey

painting by Edgar Degas

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July 16, 2026

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Scene from the Steeplechase: The Fallen Jockey is a painting by Edgar Degas that marked a significant shift in his artistic approach. Created in the mid-1860s, this work depicted a contemporary horse race with a surprisingly close-up perspective and bold colors. This departure from historical themes and traditional subject matter was met with indifference by the Salon jury at the time. However, it is now seen as a precursor to Degas's later embrace of modern life and his development of a unique artistic style that blended line and color.123

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Edgar Degas
Color and line
…following year his dramatic painting Scene from the Steeplechase: The Fallen Jockey was also met with indifference, despite its startlingly close-up view of a contemporary horse race that seems, in retrospect, like the public announcement of a transformation in his art.
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…following year his dramatic painting Scene from the Steeplechase: The Fallen Jockey was also met with indifference, despite its startlingly close-up view of a contemporary horse race that seems, in retrospect, like the public announcement of a transformation in his art.
Read More