At the Races, Before the Start by Degas

This large oil painting on canvas by the French artist Degas Edgar explores the modern theme of horse racing under the title “At the Races, Before the Start”. Faithful to the impressionist aesthetic, this very major and beautiful work captures the informal moments preceding the competition in a large open landscape. The creative artist deliberately favors a decentralized staging to emphasize this superb effect of spontaneity.

A large group of riders and mounts spreads across a vast and beautiful expanse of soft, washed-out green grass. The jockeys, dressed in colorful jackets alternating red, green, yellow, and blue, guide their horses in different directions. On the left, a horse prepares to leap in a spirited jump while the other mounts advance calmly and in a very loose line. In the background, an ocher and grassy hill rises under a beautifully pale and clear blue sky, reinforcing the feeling of vast space and fresh air. The soft and even daylight envelops the entire meadow, giving a serene atmosphere to the scene.

The painter displays a magnificent and bold expertise in panoramic composition here, stretching the scene lengthwise. His light and fluid touch precisely draws the nervous silhouettes of the horses and the flexible postures of the moving riders in perpetual motion.