The subject of this work is "Before the Race" and it depicts a scene at the Walters racecourse. Degas used his signature drawing technique in this artwork, combining loose brushstrokes and intricate detailing to create movement and texture. The story behind this painting is that Degas was fascinated by horse racing and often visited the racetracks to observe and capture scenes from these events. In terms of colors, Degas used a muted palette with shades of blues, browns, greys, and whites to convey the atmosphere of an early morning before a race. The type of paint used in this artwork is oil paint on canvas. This painting captures a moment frozen in time just before the excitement begins at a horse race. It showcases Degas' ability to capture movement through still images as well as his love for capturing everyday life moments.
Style
Edgar Degas belonged to the Impressionist art movement style but was also known for pushing its boundaries with elements from Realism as well as Classical traditions. In this particular work, we can see his blend of impressionistic brushwork combined with attention to detail reminiscent of classical academic techniques. Degas focused on depicting modern life subjects such as ballet dancers, café scenes, or horse races using innovative composition angles influenced by Japanese prints he admired. His use of light and color captured fleeting moments while emphasizing atmospheric effects. Overall Edgar Degas created unique compositions within traditional genres like portraiture or landscape settings which helped him establish himself not only among Impressionists but also make notable contributions towards Modern Art movements.