The artwork titled “Two Horses in a Pasture” by Edgar Degas, dated circa 1871, is an oil on canvas representing the genre of animal painting, specifically focusing on equine subjects. As an example of Impressionist work, its dimensions are 45.1 by 35.5 cm, and it currently resides in a private collection.
In the artwork, one observes two horses grazing in a pastoral setting. The painting captures the essence of the animals’ tranquil engagement with the environment. The composition is relatively simple, focusing on the two horses in the center of the canvas. The strokes are loose and the color palette is fairly muted with an emphasis on natural tones, which is typical of Degas’ work during his involvement with the Impressionist movement. The sky is depicted with a subtle range of colors, hinting at either a sunrise or sunset, adding a serene atmosphere to the scene. The artist’s brushwork provides a sense of the texture of the horses’ coats and the grassy landscape. Degas’ interest in movement and form is visible in the way he represents the horses’ bodies and their positioning within the pasture.
