Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas was a French artist born in Paris. Her full name is Hilaire Germain Edgar. Degas' father was a banker and his mother was from New Orleans in the United States.

In fact, as a young boy Edgar had a deep passion for music. To pursue his love of music, Degas was sent to Lycee Louis-le-Grand, where he began his classical education. Besides music, Degas specialized in painting and drawing. He found support and motivation from his father, who was passionate about the arts. By the age of eighteen, Degas had an opportunity to replicate the art techniques of the various artists whose works are in the Louvre. With this opportunity, he was able to create Raphael's exceptional spikes while studying the styles of Eugene Delacroix and Ingres, among other contemporary painters.

In 1855, the young artist was admitted to the Academie des Beaux Arts, now known as the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. After working at this institution for about a year, Degas left school and decided to spend more time in Italy. In Italy, Degas decided to copy some of the works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Caravaggio, which are considered some of the artist's inspirations. The masterpiece of these artists inspired the young artist.

He finally returned to Paris in 1859. During this time he already had a great image as a painter. For Degas, he was very impressed with the traditional approach to painting, in which he showed large historical scenes and large-scale family portraits. He decided to send some of his works to the Salon, but faced some difficulties. The hall was run by French artists and mentors who also led the public exhibitions.

However, the group had the traditional concept of beauty. They thought Degas' work was not important, and it was difficult to get over it. Thus he developed his style and met Edouard Manet. According to Degas, artists should consider taking a newer approach to their work.

In 1868 the artist was among the members of the avant-garde artists during that time. Among these famous artists were Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. They often met at Cafe Gerbois in France, where they discussed different techniques of modern art. When a bloody civil war broke out that helped rebuild France's Third Republic, Degas escaped by taking refuge with relatives in the United States.

Edgar Degas Works, Paintings, Studies, Paintings

When Degas returned to his hometown in 1873, he met with other artists, including Sisley and Monet, who founded the Societe Anoyme des Artistes. The group was dedicated to establishing art exhibitions that were not under the control of the Salon. Eventually, these evolved into artists who referred to themselves as Impressionists. These artists also held their first impressionist exhibitions in 1874. Subjects featured in Degas' work included images of women in modern times such as ballet dancers, laundresses, and millers.

Over the years, the artist group had eight impressionist exhibitions, in which Degas often presented his own work. Many of Degas' works have been featured here, including Dance Class, Dance Class, Bar Dancers, and Woman Ironing. He also had a famous sculpture called The Little Fourteen Year Old Dancer, which has become controversial and also admired. Throughout her dance, it's a subject that ballet dancer Edgar Degas always comes back to. Where artists have always returned to their favorite themes - Van Gogh his Sunflowers, Cezanne apples and his Water Lilies Monet.