Horse Galloping on Right Foot
Original title: Horse Galloping on Right Foot
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas modeled this bronze, Horse Galloping on Its Right Foot, probably after 1887 or 1889; it was not cast until 1920. The sculpture catches a split second of motion: a horse balances on its right hind leg while the other legs hang suspended in the air.
Description
A horse is shown mid-gallop, bearing its weight on the right hind leg with the remaining legs lifted. The front hooves meet the ground, heightening the sense of movement. The polished bronze catches the light across taut muscle and the lay of the coat, while the flat, uneven base adds to the momentum. A plain, single-color backdrop pushes the figure fully forward.
Context
Degas likely made the sculpture after 1887 or 1889, but it was cast in 1920, after his death. Known above all as a painter, he turned increasingly to sculpture in his later years. Because he worked mainly in wax and clay during his lifetime, many of his sculptures were only cast in bronze posthumously. Horses recur throughout his oeuvre, often in racing scenes.
Impact
The immediate sense of drive pulls the viewer in at once. Finely modeled muscles and the daring balance set up an aesthetic tension that radiates elegance and strength together. The gleaming bronze surface sharpens the work's vitality.
Technique
Casting in bronze allows the details to be reproduced precisely. The surface is glossy and reveals delicate modeling of musculature and coat. The statue rests on an uneven base that further emphasizes the horse's movement.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)