An Essay On Edgar Degas

On July 19, 1834, a Parisian who is known as a one the founders of the Impressionist movement, Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas was born. Throughout his lifetime, the French artist created hundreds of artwork that would that would pave the way for artist to come. Known as “the painter of dancers”, Edgar Degas would capture the ballet world of the 19th century.

The oldest of five, Degas came from a prominent family. At his birth, his father, Auguste Degas, worked as a banker in Paris. His mother, Celestine Degas, was born in Louisiana, but had spent most of her life in Europe. Degas was educated by the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris. Although, Degas and his father often frequented museums together, encouraging Degas in his drawings, his father expected him to go to law school. Attending University of Paris. Reverting back to drawing in 1855, Degas gained admission into the École des Beaux-Arts. He dedicated himself to the technique of classic art by coping paintings at the Louvre of some of the greats. He trained in the studio of Louis Lamothe, who taught in the traditional Academic style, with its emphasis on lines. Degas left school and traveled to Italy for three years where he studied the works of renaissance artist such as Michelangelo and da Vinci. Degas often struggled with self-doubt in his work, which often lead to unfinished projects. He was advice by Jeanniot to work from memory rather than nature.

Degas returned to Paris in 1859 with the intention of mastering his skill as a painter. He painted large portraits his family members as well as historical scenes. Some of his work included “The Daughter of Jephtha”, “Semiramis Building Babylon”, and “Scene of War in the Middle Ages”. Towards the late 1860’s, Degas had found himsel...

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...y practiced. He often captured them in different angles, exploring the way their bodies flowed throughout their performance.

In his later years, Degas became reclusive, and was known to be eccentric and anti-sematic causing him to cut himself off from people. Though he painted much less during this time, Degas worked tirelessly on his art collection. He never married, nor had any children. Degas had truly devoted his life to his artwork. It was on September 27th, 1917 that Edgar Degas passed away in Paris at the age of 83.

Although in his time, Degas’ work was criticized and ridiculed, we now can enjoy and admire a great artist’s work. It then leaves no space to doubt that, Edgar Degas paved the way for many artist to come to find their own voice and stretch the boundaries in creating an art piece. “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”

Edgar Degas