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Edgar Degas: fascination with movement
"There is love and there is work, but we have only one heart."
Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas was born on July 19, 1834, in Paris. His father was a descendant of wealthy bankers from Naples, and his mother, an American from New Orleans. Since a very early age, Degas demonstrated a rare talent for arts. His parents appreciated music and plastic arts, thus he was privileged to count on his father's support, which permitted him to change one of the rooms in their apartment into a painting studio.
It was also with his father's support that young Edgar quit law school to dedicate exclusively to art: disciple of painter Felix-Joseph Barrias and then, of Louis Lamothe (that had been disciple of Ingres), he would soon take trips to Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, and Naples. At that time, he painted the famous portrait The Bellelli Family, in which we may notice a "tension" in the expression of his uncles, who lived in Florence. During his trips to Italy, he strove to study artists of the Renaissance, whose way of drawing would exercise a fundamental influence over him.
Returning to Paris, in 1862, he met Manet, who became his great friend and introduced him to a circle of artists that would later form the impressionist group. Man of a strong personality, Degas had a tendency towards melancholy, besides a scathing criticism. He was once nicknamed Bear, due to the danger he represented to those who tried to approach him.
His option for seclusion, however, was the basis for him to develop his meticulous art method: innumerable drafts and sketches were made before each canvas. Although many times he presented apparently simple and casual works, it was by means of hard studying that he managed to reach his aim: paint almost photographic canvases, with scenes that seemed to capture an unexpected unique moment, ephemeral impressions (hence, his inclusion among impressionists) of a calculated spontaneity. About his art, he used to affirm: "What I do is the result of reflection and the study of great masters; I know nothing about inspiration".
Different from most impressionists, Degas preferred to work in his studio, making use of artificial light. With this method he managed to perfect the lines of his drawing. He aimed at associating traditional techniques to current themes at his time. Common characters, like ballerinas, horses, women at work or in moments of intimacy were his favorite.
In his last years, Degas gradually lost sight, what transformed him in an even more reclusive person, difficult to get along with. Alone and with few friends, he died on September 27, 1917, in Paris, city where he always lived.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
10 Nov 2010 -
Date of issue
Oct 2010
