At the Races Before the Start Edgar Degas (1834-1917)

The composition presents a scene of controlled anticipation; a group of horses and their riders gathers before the commencement of a race. The artist has chosen a horizontal format, emphasizing the breadth of the field and the expanse of the grassy terrain upon which they stand. A low horizon line dominates much of the canvas, flattening the perspective and drawing attention to the figures in the foreground.
Here we see a cluster of horses, each with its rider, poised for action. The animals are rendered in varying degrees of detail; some appear more sharply defined, while others blend into the overall atmospheric haze. Their postures suggest a mixture of restlessness and obedience – heads held high, muscles tense, yet restrained by the riders’ control. The jockeys themselves are largely anonymous figures, clad in brightly colored jackets that punctuate the muted tones of the landscape. These colors – reds, pinks, and blues – offer a visual contrast to the earthy browns and greens surrounding them.
The color palette is predominantly warm, with ochres, yellows, and browns creating a sense of hazy sunlight and dusty ground. The application of paint appears loose and impressionistic; brushstrokes are visible, contributing to an overall feeling of immediacy and capturing the fleeting nature of the moment. Theres a deliberate lack of sharp outlines, which softens the forms and contributes to the atmospheric quality of the scene.
Beyond the straightforward depiction of a pre-race gathering, subtexts relating to social class and leisure emerge. The activity itself – horse racing – was historically associated with the upper echelons of society. The painting implies an environment of privilege and recreation, where individuals gather for entertainment and spectacle. The anonymity of the figures further reinforces this sense of detachment; they are representatives of a particular lifestyle rather than individualized portraits.
The overall mood is one of restrained energy – a moment suspended between expectation and action. It’s not a depiction of triumph or defeat, but rather an observation of the quiet tension that precedes it. The artist seems less interested in documenting a specific event than in capturing the atmosphere and social context surrounding it.