Two Laundresses and a Horse 1902

Edgar Degas made this pastel, “Two Laundresses and a Horse,” at an unknown date. Look at the mark making here; it’s all about speed and gesture, capturing movement and light, right? You can almost feel the chalky texture of the pastel on the paper. Notice how the colors blend and bleed into each other, creating a sense of atmosphere and depth. See the horse's flank, the way he's captured the curve of the muscle with just a few strokes? It’s not about perfect representation, but more about feeling. The physicality of the medium is so apparent. Degas was always experimenting with ways to represent the fleeting moments of everyday life, which reminds me a bit of Manet, but more gritty somehow. It’s not about polished surfaces, but the messy, imperfect beauty of the world. Art, like life, is an ongoing process of discovery.