HENRI DE TOULOUSE-LAUTREC (1864-1901)

The distant windmill visible in Le Jockey identifies the setting as the racing course at Longchamps, in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris. The dynamism of the print is achieved through the daring foreshortening of the foreground horse and dramatic use of perspective, devices indebted to the work of Degas and Manet. The boldness of the composition is further heightened by the high horizon and abrupt cropping of the horses at the left viewed from an elevated position (a device derived from Japanese prints), creating the illusion that they are actually suspended from the ground. A strong sense of surface design is achieved by the echoing shapes of the horses and jockeys, taking up most of the picture space and standing out powerfully against the light green expanse of the background. The compelling power of this design is particularly evident in the present impression due to the strengths of the colors which add depth and contrast to the scene.