Edgar Degas painted and sculpted horses and jockeys throughout his career, drawn to the racetrack as a modern subject that let him study animal and human movement with the same rigor he applied to ballet dancers. "Horse and Rider" reflects this enduring interest, often informed by the sequential photography of Eadweard Muybridge, which Degas studied closely to correct and refine his depictions of a horse's gait. Racing scenes form one of the four major subject groups — alongside ballet, bathers, and portraits — that define Degas's mature work.
Printed edge to edge on a soft, durable woven area rug with a comfortable, non-slip feel.
