La Rue Quesnoy À Saint-Valéry-Sur-Somme 1895 - 1898

Edgar Degas created this work, *La Rue Quesnoy À Saint-Valéry-Sur-Somme*, with pastel. The composition divides the pictorial space into discrete geometric forms. The buildings on either side are rendered with broad, linear strokes, directing the viewer's gaze towards a distant horizon line. The somewhat muted palette, dominated by greys and browns, is punctuated by small segments of blues and reds, which serve to draw the eye and articulate the architectural forms. There’s a tension created through the juxtaposition of organic and inorganic forms, where the unruly trees contrast with the structured regularity of the buildings. Degas, much like other Impressionists, was preoccupied with capturing fleeting moments. Here, the very materiality of pastel contributes to this sense of ephemerality, as the strokes suggest movement and change. The visible layering hints at a process of continuous revision, reflecting a modern sensibility toward the nature of perception. It's in this play of color, line, and form that Degas engages with the ongoing discourse around representation and abstraction.