Edgar Degas

Self-Portrait ; 1863

July 19, 1834 - September 27, 1917

Edgar Degas was a French artist famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. He is especially identified with the subject of dance; more than half of his works depict dancers. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, although he rejected the term, preferring to be called a “realist.” He was a superb draftsman, and particularly masterly in depicting movement, as can be seen in his renditions of dancers, race course subjects, and female nudes. His portraits are notable for their psychological complexity and for their portrayal of human isolation.

At the beginning of his career, Degas wanted to be a history painter, a calling he was well prepared for by his rigorous academic training and close study of classic art. In his early thirties he changed course, and by bringing the traditional methods of a history painter to bear on contemporary subject matter, he became a classical painter of modern life.

Emma Dobigny ; 1869

The Orchestra of the Opera ; 1870

Dancer In Her Dressing Room ; 1878