Battle Scene with Armored Figures on Horseback 1856 - 1860

Editor: So, this is Edgar Degas' "Battle Scene with Armored Figures on Horseback," likely sketched between 1856 and 1860. It's a pencil drawing, and the looseness of the strokes gives it a really raw, immediate feeling, like a glimpse into Degas' thought process. What catches your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: It's true, isn’t it? It feels like we’ve stumbled into his studio, and this is what was laying on the drawing table that day. I’m immediately struck by the energy – those swirling pencil lines. It’s more than just a battle scene; it's a study of movement, of the dynamic tension between man and beast. I’m wondering, does the unfinished quality add or detract from its power, for you? Editor: I think it actually adds to it! The sketchiness kind of enhances the chaos of battle, if that makes sense? Like we're seeing only fragments of the action, just like how battles probably felt in the moment. Does it make you think about Romanticism at all, or historical paintings? Curator: Absolutely. There's that Romanticism punch to it with its embrace of dynamism and the sublime. But he does reel back with its "academic" features. Notice how each horse is meticulously drawn; each glint of imagined armor considered! There's something about how Degas is capturing the old masters’ art whilst he plays with Impressionistic feeling in this preliminary piece! This sketch makes me wonder: What kind of battle is it? Are the combatants battling ideas? Are they facing the challenge of light, form and texture? And, is there a world beyond where our pencil falls short? Editor: I never thought about the light and texture. Now it feels as though I should go see other drawings from his sketchbook to compare the level of academic details and how they serve each scene and his intention. This was a different look at his art. Thank you! Curator: And for me, a reminder of the constant dance between intent and execution. A delightful collision that sparks a sketch to life.