________________________________________________________________ Art Masterpiece: Racehorses, 1888

Edgar Degas 1834 - 1917

Pronounced: Duh-Gah’ Keywords: Asymmetrical, Impressionism Grade: Sixth Activity: How to Draw a Horse Meet the Artist:

• His full name was Hillaire Germain Edgar Degas. • He was born in Paris, France. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts

and developed a great ability for drawing. • He was friends with painter Edward Manet, who encouraged him to paint

contemporary themes. • He was a French painter and sculptor who is considered a master of

drawing the human figure in motion. • He worked with many mediums, but preferred pastels. • He is best known for his paintings, drawings and bronzes of ballerinas and

race horses. • He was attracted by theatrical subjects and chose to paint people in

natural poses. He captured his subjects like photographs. Often they are not centered in the frame and appear to have been cropped. He preferred to paint asymmetrical paintings.

About the Art Style Impressionism

• Art that gives and impression of the subject with accurate depiction of light and movement, but not necessarily details. Subject matter is usually ordinary, everyday places and people doing ordinary things.

Questions about Racehorses

• What do you see in this painting? What is in the foreground and background?

• Is it painted with great detail? Why not? • How do you feel about it? What do you think the jockeys are doing? • Why didn’t the artist paint the race? • Are the horses realistic?

Activity How to Draw a Horse Supplies Projector Pens to draw on projector sheets White Drawing paper Pencils (plain & colored) or crayons Directions

• Give each child one piece of drawing paper • Have students write their first names on the back of the paper • Put Page #1 of the How to draw the horse slides on the projector • Read along the steps on each page, use a color (erasable) pen and follow

along the directions onto the slide. Have the kids follow you in regular pencil (erasable).

• When you are done each child should have a picture of a horse completed.

• They may shade in with colored pencils (or crayons) if they would like.

HOW TO DRAW A HORSE

1. Draw the square box and the perpendicular lines inside. This will act as your guide for your horse. Draw lightly so you can erase the line later. Leave room above the box to draw a head.

2. Draw the circles to guide you in drawing the front & back haunches of the horse. Notice the front is larger since the front includes the shoulders of the horse.

3. Add some straight lines from circles for legs – make the back legs bent. 4. Draw small circles for knee and ankle joints. 5. The head and neck can now be added by using straight lines and circles.