Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All Ages Edgar Degas
Degas is famous for his beautiful depictions of ballet dancers, but he was also giving a glimpse into the tough reality those dancers experienced.
Edgar Degas, born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas in 1834, grew up in a wealthy Parisian family with strong ties to the arts. In 1855, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts, where he trained under Louis Lamothe, a follower of the neoclassical artist Ingres. During this period, Degas focused on traditional subjects, such as historical scenes and portraits and he was fairly successful at it. Degas would be one of the few Impressionists accepted by the Paris Salon although not for the ballet dancers and the style of work we associate with him today.
Degas was deeply interested in depicting movement and the human figure in action. Ballet dancers, with their graceful poses and dynamic movements, provided him with a perfect subject to explore these artistic challenges. These works provided Degas with opportunities to experiment with perspective, composition, and lighting. He used unusual angles and cropping to create dynamic and unexpected compositions, often emphasizing the patterns of light and shadow on the dancers' bodies and costumes. Ultimately, I think these works have stood the test of time because we can look at them through different lenses and still find something to appreciate. Whether social commentary, a peek behind the curtain and glimpse into another person’s lived experiences or simply an aesthetic experience reveling in the lights, the colors, the texture and flow of the costumes and the graceful movements of the dancers, there is something beautiful in the work.
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