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Edgar DegasEdgar Degas (July 19, 1834�September 27, 1917) was a French painter and sculptor.
Born Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas in Paris, France, he was the oldest of five children. Madame de Gas belonged to a French family that settled in America. Degas was fond of his mother and her death in 1847 was a deep personal tragedy for him. His father, a banker, encouraged his son�s artistic inclination. He received a classical education at Lycee Louis-le-Grand from 1845-1852. In 1852, he transformed a room from the family home into a studio and worked under Felix Joseph Barrias. He made copies of the old masters in the Louvre and studied the prints of D�rer, Mantegna, Rembrandt and Goya. In 1854, he studied with Louis Lamothe who was a disciple of Ingres for whom Edgar Degas would retain great respect. In 1855, Degas began study at the �cole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, but found the course too unprofitable and restricting. Edgar Degas preferred home study of classical tradition. He was also able, through hospitable family members, to make regular trips to Italy during this period. He studied hard, making copies of pictures and filling sketchbooks. In 1859, Edgar Degas opened a studio in Paris where portraiture and historical subjects occupied his time. Degas abandoned the historical genre in 1866 for several reasons. In 1862, Edgar Degas met Edouard Manet who was interested in themes from modern life in preference to traditional subject matter. Edgar Degas also met novelist Edmond Duranty, a passionate believer in realism who wanted to remove the barrier between art and life. Degas was a regular at the caf� Guerbois where many artists associated with Impressionism would meet. Degas' changing views were reflected in his art during the late 1860s. He turned to theatre and the race-course for inspiration. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), Degas served in the artillery. He contracted a severe chill during his service, which was the first trouble with his eyes. Degas lived with relatives in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1872-1873. One of the paintings he did there and brought back to France, "The Cotton Exchange at New Orleans", got him favorable attention. This was his only work purchased by a museum during his lifetime. On his return to France, he opened a studio and concentrated on themes from modern life; dancers, acrobats, singers, washerwomen etc. He also did female nudes, which, along with dancers, became his favourite subject matter. In 1874, Degas' father died, leaving him vast debts. Edgar Degas was forced to sell off some of his art collection. From 1874, Degas sent works to the Impressionist's group shows. In fact, he helped organise the first Impressionist exhibition. In 1881, he showed, "The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years", his only sculpture exhibited during his life. After the last Impressionist exhibition in 1886, Degas stopped sending works to exhibitions.
In the 1880s, when his eyesight began to fail, Degas shifted his talent to sculpture and pastel, which did not require such acute vision. By the 1890s, he could only work on large compositions. In 1908, he gave up art completely. It was a crippling blow. Degas was evicted from his home and a new studio was found for him, but he never settled there. He wandered the streets like a blind Homer. Edgar Degas died in Paris on September 27, 1917. He is buried in the Cimeti�re de Montmartre, Paris. Degas left more than 2,000 oil paintings and pastels and 150 sculptures. Degas' innovative composition, influenced by photography and the Japanese woodblock prints called Ukiyo-e, his skillful drawing and perceptive analysis of movement made him one of the masters of progressive art in the late 19th century. He is especially known for his paintings of ballet dancers, women and race horses. He is often considered an Impressionist, but his work sometimes goes more in classical and realist directions and other times to Romanticism.
Today, paintings by Degas can sell for more than $16 million USD.
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