Edgar Degas
Early Life
Edgar Degas was born in Paris in 1834 to a moderately wealthy family, and as a young man was a member of the Haute Bourgeoisie. He attended the École des Beaux-Arts where he studied classical painting and was heavily influenced by the French Neo-Classicalist, Ingrès, as well as Delacroix and Daumier.
He become a historical painter for a while in the early 1860's and although he quickly moved away from this genre, he never lost his fascination with the human figure, excellent draftsmanship and the importance of line.
Influences
Degas is remembered as an Impressionist painter, although he never believed this label was right for him. The Impressionists were a group of Parisian artists who exhibited together between 1874 and 1886. They shared an fascination with capturing the effects of light on their subject, and mainly chose to paint outdoors 'en plein air'. Degas, by contrast, hated painting outside as his eyes were sensitive (he lost his sight almost entirely by the age of 57), and instead chose to work in his studio, mainly painting people.
He was influenced by the interesting compositions, asymmetry and un-expected vantage points of Japanese prints. Linked with this was an avid interest in early photography. He used photos to capture spontaneous poses and off-centre compositions, and stark contrasts of light and dark which he would then use as subjects for his paintings and drawings.
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." - Edgar Degas
Detail of ‘The Singer in Green’ by Edgar Degas c 1884
His Subjects
Throughout his painting career, Degas continually painted the human figure and portraits. He was particularly drawn to the tensions between men and women, and observations of contemporary life: women at work - milliners, laundresses and professional dancers. Preferring to work indoors drew him to theatres and opera houses. Here he could draw people in expressive poses, particularly dancers, acrobats and musicians. He liked the artificial light of theatres which contrasted bright colours and deep shadows.
‘The Millinery Shop’ by Edgar Degas - 1879 - 86
Degas had his own distinct style, one which reflected his deep respect for the old masters and particularly Delacroix and Ingrès. Although his early paintings are painted in oil, by the mid 1870's he was experimenting with etching and monotype printing which he then worked pastel into. By the late 1870's, he was using soft pastel which he applied in complex layers and textures. This medium satisfied his growing interest in line coupled with expressive colour. It is Degas's later work, created after the heyday of impressionism, that his colours became more intense, forms became looser and backgrounds more simplified.
‘After the Bath’ by Edgar Degas
As Degas aged, his sight deteriorated so he started to model wax sculptures. The only sculpture he exhibited in his lifetime was 'The Little Dancer' which was dressed in a real tutu; it was only cast in bronze in 1922, 5 years after he died.
‘The Little Dancer’ by Edgar Degas c1880