Before the Race by Edgar Degas

Before the Race (1887)

Edgar Degas | Impressionism | Pastel with charcoal underdrawing on tracing paper, mounted on cardboard

Four jockeys in bright blue, yellow, orange and red silks sit on their horses on fresh green grass, waiting for the race to begin. Degas drew horses and riders again and again throughout his career, and for this series he was inspired by Eadweard Muybridge, a photographer who tried to capture motion in still pictures.

Did you know? Scholars think Degas first drew this scene in charcoal and pastel. Several years later he traced it, flipped it around, and made this finished pastel with bolder colors and leafy trees along the horizon to suggest a spring day.

Original held at Cleveland Museum of Art

Museum-quality giclée print on archival Enhanced Matte Art paper (200gsm) with fade-resistant pigment inks rated for 100+ years.

Available formats reflect each painting's source-image resolution - where the master can't honestly support a larger print at gallery quality, that size isn't offered. Every purchase supports our mission to make art education accessible and joyful for learners of all ages.