At the Races in the Countryside
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| Edgar Degas, At the Races in the Countryside, 1869 |
Degas inspired Cassatt, who continued to venerate his work
throughout her own artistic career. This becomes evident in Driving (1881), a
painting that draws heavily upon Degas’ At the Races in the Countryside (1869).
Cassatt’s interpretation focuses on the family within the carriage, carrying
her maternal motif, while Degas incorporates more of the surroundings.
The key difference between the two pieces is color. Cassatt
creates a dark background, keeping her figures light and rosy, while Degas
paints a light and airy background contrasted by the dark horse and carriage.
Degas’s light blue and pea green are superior to Cassatt’s dark tones. Additionally, Degas expands the painting and including more than just the main subjects, creating a more interesting composition. Unfortunately for Cassatt, the grasshopper
has not surpassed the master.
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