Presentazione Edgar Degas

EDGAR DEGAS

PRESENTATION

Edgar Degas was born in Paris on 19,1834 into a moderately wealthy family, his father Pierre Auguaste was a banker passionate about music and art, while his mother Celestine Mussion belonged to a family originally from Maiti.

Edgar Degas was one of the most celebrated French painters and sculptors, associated with the Impressionist movement. Famous for his vivid depictions of Parisian life, ballet dancers, horse races...

Degas combined a traditional attention to form with a modern approach to composition and color.

Two patrons are seated at café tables. The protagonist is a young woman dressed in heavy clothes that completely cover her, along with a fashionable hat. A pair of shoes, decorated with white bows, peeks out from the bottom of her skirt. On the table in front of her, there is a glass containing a pale yellow beverage. On the table to the left, a transparent and empty bottle rests on a metal tray. Next to the woman, on the right, a man in dark clothing smokes a pipe and looks beyond the edge of the painting. Behind the two characters, their shadows are reflected in the mirror.

The woman appears lost in thought, with a sad and pained expression. Her posture also suggests abandonment and depression, as her torso is slightly bent forward and her shoulders are slouched.

Finally, in the foreground on the left table, the artist’s signature can be seen near the bow of a violin. Additionally, a newspaper rolled around a reading stick is placed between the two tables.

"THE DANCE CLASS" The title of the painting is "the dance class". It was painted by the french artist Edgar Degas in 1874 and it is exposed in Orsay Museum, in Paris. The technique used is oil on canvas. The scene depicts a dance class held by the famous ballet master Jules Perrot, in a dance studio. The master in the middle of the composition, is observing carefully the steps of a dancer, having in his hands a long stick. The other 24 dancers are all arranged in a semicircle around the master. They are visibile tired and are taking a break after the class.

In the foreground, on the left, we can see a dancer standing with her back turned and a big red bowling in her hair who is fanning. At her left there is a watering-can and on the right a funny dog. At her left, sitting at a piano, another dancer with a yellow bow who is scratching her back. On the background some other dancer adjusting the dance costume, or the earring, chatting, or sitting with the typical pose of the dancers. Their expressions are natural and spontaneous. The main color is white; the light is natural. I like this painting because it transmits me a sense of peace showing the elegance and motions of ballet dancers.

"DANCERS IN BLUE" The title of the painting is "Dancers in blue"or "Blue dancers". It was painted by the french artist Edgar Degas in 1897 and it is exposed in Puskin Museum in Moscow. The technique used is pastel. The scene depicts four dancers wearing blue tutù who are preparing themselves for the performance on the stage. Their arms, bodies, faces creates the impression of seeing a single dancer while is twirling in counterclockwise. Below there is a bowed dancer, her face is hidden to make it seems a more natural scene. The expressions of the dancers are natural and spontaneous. The painting is simmetrically divided and the main colour is a brilliant blue. I like this painting because it transmits me happiness.

This painting, entitled "Two Dancers" (1879), is a work by Edgar Degas, the well-known French impressionist painter and sculptor. Degas is famous for his representation of dance and his interest in exploring the natural movements and intimate moments of the dancers. The scene depicts two dancers in show gowns, sitting on a bench in a ballroom, probably at a moment of rest. Both wear white fluffy tutus, typical of classical dance. The dancers appear relaxed and natural. One is bent forward with her hands on her knees, while the other stretches towards her right foot, almost to fix the boot or do stretching. The room is simple, with a wooden floor that reflects soft light. The background is a yellow wall that adds warmth to the atmosphere. The colour palette is soft, dominated by shades of white, yellow, brown and light pink. The use of light is gentle and natural. Degas uses pastels and soft brushstrokes to capture the details of the fabric and movement. The composition highlights her interest in asymmetry and unposed moments, showing the daily life of the dancers behind the scenes. This work reflects Degas' unique approach to the representation of dance, focusing not on performance but on the work, fatigue and moments of intimacy of the dancers. It offers a human and realistic view of the world of dance, far from the idealized elegance of the stage.

“Houses by the Sea"

The painting “Houses by the Sea" by Edgar Degas is a masterpiece of French Impressionism

This work, dating back to 1869, and used an “oil paint on paper“ technique

Degas uses an unusual perspective to show houses and the sea at a diagonal angle, which creates a sense of depth and movement in the scene. In addition, the artist uses the "cut look" technique, which involves cutting the image to create the feeling that the scene continues beyond the frame of the painting. The story behind the creation of "House by the sea" is also fascinating. Degas painted this work while recovering from an illness on the coast of Normandy in northern France. The painting reflects the beauty and tranquility of the coast, as well as the feeling of peace and serenity that Degas experienced during his recovery.

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