Horse and Rider
c. 1878
Edgar Degas was absolutely obsessed with capturing the raw energy of horses, and this sketch is a perfect example of his restless genius. Notice how the rider is barely more than a ghostly outline, while the horse's powerful muscles are rendered with intense, scratchy strokes. Even though he's grouped with the Impressionists, Degas hated the label and preferred to study movement like a scientist in his studio. He drew hundreds of horses just like this one to understand their anatomy before ever attempting his famous wax sculptures.
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