At the Races: Before the Start

Hi everyone, I'm Isabella! Today, we're going to look at a painting called "At the Races: Before the Start." It was painted by an artist named Edgar Degas a long, long time ago. nn Can you say "Edgar Degas?" nn This painting shows us what it was like to be at a horse race over 100 years ago! nn --- nn Look closely at the painting. What do you see? nn That's right! You see horses and their riders called jockeys. They are all lined up and ready to race! nn --- nn Do you see the bright colors the jockeys are wearing? Those are called silks. They are red, blue, and white. The colors really pop out against the green grass, don't they? nn --- nn See how Degas painted the horses? He used loose and swirly brushstrokes. It makes them look like they are moving, doesn't it? It's like we're right there at the race, feeling the excitement! nn --- nn Degas was really good at showing movement in his paintings. He loved to paint dancers and horses because they were always on the move. nn What else do you see in the painting? What do you think is going to happen next? nn --- nn This painting is like a snapshot of a really exciting moment. Degas helps us imagine the sounds of the crowd and the horses' hooves pounding on the ground. nn Thank you for joining me today! I hope you had fun looking at this amazing painting with me.