At the Races - Before the Start

"At the Races – Before the Start" (1869) by Edgar Degas is a remarkable example of Impressionism and genre painting. Created with oil on canvas, the work captures a tranquil moment before a horse race, depicting a family in a horse-drawn carriage in the countryside. Degas's keen attention to everyday scenes and light effects exemplifies Impressionist techniques. The painting, which was exhibited at the first Impressionist Exhibition in 1874, offers a glimpse into leisure life and social interactions outside the racetrack, emphasizing candidness and intimacy in genre painting.