EDGAR DEGAS
Painter, Visual Artist
created by Angela Liljestrand, Film class #1
*Edgar Degas was a visual artist, labeled as an "impressionist." He thought of himself as a "realist" instead. Through his works he captured fleeting moments and preferred to paint places like cafes and theaters, rather than landscapes.
More than half of his works depicted dancers. He had an interest for a wide range of media, including engraving, monotype, and photography.
*Degas had a number of his paintings in the Salon between 1865 and 1870. His works received praise from Pierre Puvis de Chavannes and the critic Jules-Antonie Castagnary. He eventually joined forces with the Impressionists, but he rejected their ideas. His most controversial piece was La Petite Danseuse, or Little Dancer of Fourteen Years, because some critics compared the dancer to a monkey or Aztec.
*This artist was French and born on July 18, 19, 1834 in Paris, France. After his education, Degas traveled for three years to Italy to study painting. He returned to France in 1859 and set out to make a name for himself as a painter. In 1862 he met a fellow painter named Edouard Manet at the Louvre and they developed a friendly rivalry. The two shared a disdain for the presiding art establishment. He joined the Salon in France and like the Impressionists his works were casual and un-posed but they differed because he didn't paint outside.