Horse Turned Three-Quarters

Horse Turned Three-Quarters is a masterful drawing created by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, between 1880 and 1884. This study, indicative of the artist's intense focus on movement and anatomy, was executed using black crayon on buff tracing paper, a support often favored by Degas for its versatility in preparatory studies. Although the paper was formerly laid down onto a secondary support, the delicate rendering of the subject matter remains clear. Created in France during a period when the Impressionist movement was flourishing, this drawing demonstrates Degas’s unique observational approach, merging classical draftsmanship with modern subject matter.

The piece captures a horse in a specific, dynamic pose, viewed from a three-quarters angle. Unlike many of his contemporaries who focused solely on landscapes or society portraits, Degas frequently explored behind-the-scenes life, particularly subjects related to horse racing and the Paris Opéra. This specific drawing likely served as a study for a larger work, allowing the artist to meticulously study equine musculature and form. The use of black crayon allows for rich tonal variations and quick modeling, capturing light and shadow effectively to define volume. This important French work is housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a prime example of Degas’s dedication to drawing as an independent art form.

As part of his comprehensive body of work spanning nearly half a century, drawings like Horse Turned Three-Quarters reveal the foundational skill underpinning Degas's famous paintings and sculptures. Due to its historical significance and age, this masterwork is often available for study and reproduction; high-quality digital prints derived from the original drawing are widely circulated through various public domain initiatives.