selected works of Degas
As one of the impressionist greats, Edgar Degas uses pastels to create a landscape with four horses with jockeys in Avant la Course (Race Horses). Like most Degas', instead of using intimate detail, this piece concentrates more on form and composition. This Pastel uses depth as a quintessential part of its composition by the placement of the figures and the vegetation. Each horse with its rider is put one in front of the other forming a kind of diagonal line starting from the bottom left corner and fading toward the top right corner. Almost reaching the horizon line three-quarters of the way up the piece. Also, the three large trees behind the horses and another tree line much smaller behind them create the feeling of distance. Furthermore, the grass area left empty on the bottom
The grass and trees are made with the same energized strokes and contain the same dark shadows contrasted by the same luminous highlights. These colors pull together exaggerated colors used in their landscape environment. A master of composition he uses placement and space to create a feeling of real depth and distance in this piece. What also makes this a strong piece is the way the primary colors of the jockeys are echoed in the landscape surrounding them and the horses they ride. Highly energized strokes in all different directions build layers to create the deep shadows contrasted by the bright highlights, which bring them to life. Employing these elements, Degas creates a structurally sound, aesthetically pleasing piece in Avant la Course. Because the detail in this pastel is limited, it relies more on form and composition. For example, like the yellow and blue of the jockeys, highlighting the grass is a bright yellow hue, and in some places a green that is almost blue. Capturing our attention foremost are the jockeys because of the colors used. A bright primary color scheme is employed to make up their shirts and hats. First, so we can literally feel the painting and not just look at it, and second, so we can optically blend the colors right there on the cardboard. The environment surrounding them is done in the same manner. Places where we can see the grass even though part of a subject should block our view. Despite this however, the horses and jockeys are done in a strong solid form.
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,
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Acceptance Essays
