| At the Races | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Edgar Degas |
| Year | 1877-1880 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Location | Musée d’Orsay, Paris |
| Dimensions | 26 x 31.9 in 66 x 81 cm |
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| At the Races | |
| Interior | |
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At the Races is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist, Edgar Degas. It is one of his more conservative and naturalistic paintings. His depiction of the equestrian beauties and their human riders (and spectators) pays careful attention to color, light, and shadow.
He completed the work in 1880, and the time he spent on the work in total from inception to completion was 3 years. During this time he was of course working on other projects as well.
Composition
It is an action-filled piece, with horses and riders in motion and at rest in an outdoor setting. It is especially interesting for the combination of close-up detail and distant perspectives.
Degas had a special affection for such scenes, and completed a number of paintings that have riding as the general theme. As with most of the artists of the period, he chose his subjects based on his own interests and did the work on his own timeline.