Edgar Degas

Getting to Know Degas

Edgar DegasImpressionism

“Four Dancers”

Degas was born in Paris on July 19, 1834.

He was born to a family of aristocrats, and like every privileged child at the time, he was exposed to arts and music.

Edgar’s idol was the painter Ingres who told him “Draw lines, young man, always lines, and you will be an artist”

Edgar DegasImpressionism

“Ballet Scene”

Did many images of the ballet.

Interested in the play of stage light on the faces of his subjects.

Short strokes of intense color.

Paintings that are not posed. Almost as if he were watching without the subjects knowing he was there.

Interested in the behind the scenes look at the performance.

“One must do the same subject over again ten times, a hundred times. In art nothing must resemble an accident, not even movement.”

Edgar DegasImpressionism

“Dancing Class”

This is one of his most famous paintings.

Let’s click on the ‘Dancing Class” link for a fun and interactive dancing class experience with Degas.

Edgar DegasImpressionism

Race Horses

Degas’ second favorite subject – racehorses.

Degas was a racehorse enthusiast who made countless drawings and paintings of the animals.

These pictures highlight rhythms of movements, patterns of activities before and after races, and the overall atmosphere of the race-track scene.

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

Edgar DegasImpressionism

“Little Dancer, Age 14”

Later in his career he began tolose his vision. He then decided to make wax sculpture his mainform of expression.

These wax sculptures were done mainly as an experiment, and werenot cast until he had already died.

Edgar DegasImpressionism

The Star Two Dancers On the Stage

Dancer putting on her stocking

TheArtInstituteOf ChicagoDegasCollection

Horse with jockey

Edgar Degas

Thank you and it was very nice getting to know you all.

Keep drawing every chance you get!