Edgar Degas was a French painter and sculptor active from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. He is known as one of the leading Impressionist artists, but he described himself as a " realist " or " independent ." He is known for his works that capture fleeting moments of modern urban life, such as ballet dancers, stage scenes, and horse racing scenes, and his unique compositions and outstanding drawing skills continue to fascinate many people today.

Edgar Degas Biography

• Born on July 19, 1834 in Paris, France, into a wealthy banking family.
• In 1855, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts (National School of Fine Arts).
• From 1856, he traveled to Italy for several years and studied Renaissance art.
• In 1874, he participated in the first Impressionist exhibition. He subsequently exhibited in seven of the eight exhibitions.
• From the 1880s onwards, due in part to his failing eyesight, he began to focus on sculpture and pastel painting.
• Died in Paris on September 27, 1917 (aged 83)

Representative works

• The Dance Class (1874)
• Dancers on a Stage (c. 1874)
• The Star (1878)
• Monsieur and Madame Manet (1868-1869)

Edgar Degas' painting style

Edgar Degas's style of painting stands out among the Impressionists . He preferred working in his studio rather than outdoors, and placed more importance on form and line drawing than on vivid colors. Influenced by Japanese art and photography , his works are characterized by bold compositions and depictions that seem to have been captured in a moment. In particular, his works depicting ballet dancers capture their fleeting movements, expressions, and backstage scenes with a keen eye. Another element that characterizes Degas' style is his frequent use of pastels in addition to oil paints.

Commentary on representative works

"The Dance Class" is one of Degas's masterpieces, depicting a ballet lesson. The focus is not on the dancer dancing in the center of the picture, but on the surrounding figures, such as dancers sitting on the floor and those resting at the edge of the picture. This asymmetrical and unbalanced composition shows Degas' originality. "Etoile" depicts a prima ballerina receiving ovations on stage. The depiction of this brilliance, capturing a moment of brilliance, is the product of Degas's sharp observational eyes and outstanding descriptive ability.

Edgar Degas's influence and posterity

Edgar Degas had a great influence on artists of later generations with his unique style of painting. In particular, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Pablo Picasso are said to have been strongly influenced by Degas. Degas's work also contributed greatly to the development of paintings that depict modern urban life. Keywords such as impressionism , realism , Japanese art , photography , ballet , and pastel are important elements in understanding Degas' art. Today, Degas' works are housed in museums around the world, and their artistic merit continues to be highly praised.