Artwork
Horses in a Meadow
Horses in a Meadow is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1871, this oil on canvas portrays two horses standing in a meadow.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1871, this oil on canvas portrays two horses standing in a meadow. The composition places a brown horse turned to the left and a white horse turned to the right in the foreground, set against a gently rolling green landscape that recedes toward distant trees and modest structures under a light‑blue sky.
Subject & Meaning
The work centers on the animals, rendered with careful observation of their forms and coats. By isolating the horses against a relatively simple natural backdrop, the painting emphasizes the physical presence and quiet interaction of the creatures within an open, pastoral setting.
Technique & Style
Degas employs a realistic approach, using a varied palette to model the texture of the horses’ fur and the surrounding foliage. The foreground figures are detailed and saturated, while the background recedes with softer tones, creating atmospheric depth without the loose, plein‑air brushwork typical of many of his contemporaries.
History & Provenance
Although Degas is best known for his studies of dancers, he produced a modest number of animal scenes such as this one. The painting reflects his broader interest in contemporary life and the French countryside during the early 1870s, a period when he was establishing his reputation within the realist and emerging Impressionist circles.
Context
The piece belongs to the landscape genre, yet it retains Degas’s focus on figure and movement. While not painted outdoors, it captures a moment of stillness in a rural environment, aligning with the era’s fascination with everyday subjects and the effects of natural light on form.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas on 19 July 1834 in Paris, Edgar Degas came from an affluent banking family with aristocratic roots and spent his childhood among the cultivated circles of the French capital.
