Battle Scene with Armored Figures on Horseback
1856-60
Before he became the master of ballet dancers and racehorses, a young Edgar Degas was obsessed with historical battles. In this energetic sketch from the late 1850s, he captures armored knights on horseback, using quick, scribbled lines to convey the chaos of combat. The contrast between the heavily shaded, fully formed rider on the right and the ghostly, faint outlines of the others shows the artist's mind actively working through the composition. It's a fascinating glimpse into the early training of a future Impressionist giant!
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