The theme of horse in Degas' works

Born in 1834, in Paris, French painter and sculptor Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was one of the greatest artists of his era and of all times. Degas who had examined and had studied the masters very well was an artist who was ahead of his time with his style and the techniques he had used. He had built a bridge between the academic art and the modern art. Degas was an important organizer and participant at the Impressionist exhibitions (1874-1886) since the first exhibition but he refused this term for himself. However the Impressionist effects can be seen at his works especially dating from the 1880's. As a modern life painter who refused to work at outdoors Degas was one of the artists who observed and depicted the Parisian life the best. Aside from the theme of ballet dancers, singers, milliners, laundresses, prostitutes and women at their toilette that Degas chose to work with the theme of horse also had an important place in his works of art. For his passion for depicting the movement the horses were ideal creatures. The horse races were at its' golden age in France and Degas especially preferred to observe and depict the race horses not during the races but before the races. There is no other artist like Degas who intensely treated the theme of horse and produced so much work during his era. Degas who liked to experiment with different techniques preferred mostly drawing, oil, pastel and wax modelling in his works with the theme of horse. Throughout his life he had exhibited only one of his sculptures and all of other wax sculptures were emerged after his death. Degas was interested in the theme of horse almost throughout his career but in the 20th century there is no sign of his interest in this theme. In this research entitled "The Theme of Horse in Degas' Works", Degas' times, life and works of art were studied on behalf of understanding the artist and his art better. Degas' paintings and sculptures with the theme of horse which is the main subject of this research were examined in details. In this context, the role and the importance of his works of art with the theme of horse in his art and in the history of art were evaluated.