Edgar Degas was a French painter and sculptor who is one of the most important representatives of Impressionism.
He was born in Paris in 1834. He abandoned his studies in law and painting to devote himself entirely to art. He remained unmarried and had no children. It seems that art and the exchange with other artists was more important to him. He also joined the Impressionist group, like his fellow artists Renoir and Monet.
He spent the last years of his life almost blind, living with a niece, and died in 1917 at the age of 83 from a cerebral hemorrhage.
He created numerous portraits and also concentrated on a few pictorial themes, which he varied, such as ballet scenes, jockeys and horses, Parisian nightlife and women grooming themselves.
The work "The Dance Class" is one of his best-known works. It shows his fascination with the world of ballet and his ability to capture human movements and postures.
However, the bronze sculpture "The little 14-year-old dancer" is also well-known and was controversial when it was published, as it was considered too realistic and imperfect.
His style was characterized by the depiction of movement and light. His paintings often appear spontaneous and sketchy, but are at the same time very precise and rich in detail.
He devoted himself to oil painting and pastel painting, in which he achieved extraordinary mastery. His sculptures also show a new conception of sculpture.
It is estimated that he left behind a total of around 1500 paintings, 600 drawings, 300 pastels and a large number of sculptures and prints. Although he did not achieve the same fame during his lifetime as other Impressionists, Degas is now regarded as one of the most important artists of the nineteenth century.
1 июл 2024
