{"product_id":"at-the-races-the-start-edgar-degas","title":"At the Races: The Start - Edgar Degas","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn early work by Edgar Degas capturing the quiet tension of jockeys and horses at the starting line of a race.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdgar Degas produced this work during his early career, a period when he began to move away from traditional historical subjects to observe contemporary Parisian life. The scene captures the tension and anticipation of a horse race at the starting line. Degas focuses on the jockeys and their mounts, positioning them in the foreground while the spectators and carriages remain in the distance. This compositional choice creates a sense of depth and separates the participants from the crowd.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting demonstrates the artist's interest in movement and the specific mechanics of the horse. The horses are rendered with anatomical precision, their muscles and stances reflecting the restless energy of the animals before the race begins. The jockeys, dressed in bright silks, provide a contrast to the muted, overcast sky and the green expanse of the turf. Degas uses a palette dominated by earthy tones, which allows the small splashes of colour in the riders' uniforms to draw the eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike later Impressionist works that prioritise light effects, this piece retains a structured, academic approach to form. The influence of photography is evident in the way the scene is cropped, as if the artist has captured a fleeting moment in time. The background figures are painted with looser, more gestural brushwork, which contrasts with the sharper focus on the horses in the front. This work provides an insight into the artist's early fascination with modern leisure activities, a theme he would return to throughout his career in his depictions of the ballet and the theatre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/impression-sunrise-claude-monet-1\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eImpression, Sunrise - Claude Monet — Claude Monet\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/self-portrait-frederic-bazille-2\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSelf-Portrait - Frederic Bazille — Frédéric Bazille\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Edgar Degas","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58595630612815,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58595653976399,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58595654009167,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58595654041935,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58595654074703,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58595654107471,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58595654140239,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58595654173007,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58595654205775,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58595654238543,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58595654271311,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58595654304079,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/At-the-Races_-The-Start_Poster_CompositorV1_1787950295098.jpg?v=1787951171","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/at-the-races-the-start-edgar-degas","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}